Lock to start preseason opener

The Broncos listed QBs Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater as co-starters on the first unofficial depth chart. Per HC Vic Fangio, Lock will start Week 1 of the preseason vs. Minnesota; Bridgewater will start Week 2 against Seattle. Fangio said Lock is getting the first crack at starting because he’s the returning veteran — not because he’s outplayed Bridgewater. We ultimately expect both passers to make starts in 2021.

Seahawks QB Drew Lock returned to practice Sunday after a bout with COVID. He has a shot to start the team's final preseason contest. Lock had been in line to start the previous exhibition and seemed to be pulling ahead of Geno Smith in the competition before this setback. We'll see where this goes now that he's back.

Seahawks QB Drew Lock tested positive for COVID. He'll be out at least the next 5 days, which means he'll miss Seattle's 2nd preseason game. Lock seemed to be making up ground on QB Geno Smith, getting 1st-team reps in Tuesday's practice. But this is an obvious setback. Smith remains the favorite to start Week 1, although Lock is a good bet to also make starts this season.

Broncos QB Drew Lock is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the Chargers with a right shoulder injury. We'll update his status when we know more. QB Brett Rypien is in for Denver.

Update: Lock returned in the 2nd quarter.

Broncos HC Vic Fangio said he was pleased with the performance from each of his top 2 QBs in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings. Drew Lock started, completed 5 of 7 passes for 151 yards and tossed a pair of TDs -- including an 80-yard connection with K.J. Hamler. Teddy Bridgewater then went 7-of-8 for 74 yards and another TD. "I don't think any separation happened today," Fangio said of the QB competition afterward, according to Andrew Mason of DNVR. Bridgewater is expected to start the next game.

The Broncos are giving 1st reps to QB Drew Lock as training camp begins. But it doesn’t sound like we should read too much into that. "We have these first four days. Everything was 50-50 in OTA. We will take look after the first off day. Then maybe do a day where one gets 70 and the other 30 reps,” Fangio said, according to Troy Renck. “It's going to be 50-50." Expect an even split early. We’ll look for signs that either Lock or Teddy Bridgewater is taking the lead in their competition.