Drew Lock stood down the podium Saturday nighttime aft perchance his last crippled arsenic starting backmost for the Denver Broncos.
Lock spoke successful the media country astatine Empower Field earlier reporters could inquire a question. He rapidly summarized the symptom of a 28-24 location decision to the Kansas City Chiefs with what’s go a communal refrain implicit his 3 NFL seasons.
“One of those games,” Lock said nether his breath. “I thought we had them.”
Close mightiness beryllium capable successful horseshoes oregon manus grenades. Not truthful overmuch for NFL quarterbacks. It’s wherefore Lock’s aboriginal successful Denver remains uncertain entering this offseason. His up-and-down show Saturday against the Chiefs provided small clarity.
Lock showcased awesome mobility with 2 touchdown scrambles — from 5 and 23 yards out. But the Missouri merchandise was acold little businesslike done the air: 12-of-24 passing for 162 yards (zero touchdowns oregon interceptions).
“I thought helium played his champion game,” caput manager Vic Fangio said. “This was truly the archetypal week helium had a existent accidental to signifier astatine mean tempo and get immoderate enactment in. I deliberation it showed.”
Of top concern, though, is Lock’s grounds successful 3 games arsenic a starter to decorativeness the season: 0-3.
What did helium larn aft coming disconnected the seat to regenerate injured starter Teddy Bridgewater?
“I learned a batch astir myself and a batch astir however resilient I could be,” Lock said. “I thought I had faced adversity before. But thing similar this year. When you get the playing (time) taken distant from you, for the archetypal clip ever successful your career, it’s different. … It lives successful maine and it breathes successful me. It’s who I am. I’m a quarterback. I privation to pb guys.”
Expectations were precocious for Lock successful 2019 erstwhile the Broncos selected him No. 42 wide successful the NFL draft. Two years of mostly struggles preceded an offseason commercialized for Bridgewater and a backmost contention successful grooming camp. Bridgewater bushed him retired for the starting job.
Lock completed lone 2 touchdown passes each season. But teammates are definite he’s taken important steps toward improvement.
“I emotion him. I deliberation he’s grown dramatically,” violative tackle Garett Bolles said. “I deliberation Teddy’s pushed him successful truthful galore directions. (Lock) has been a phenomenal idiosyncratic that sat back, waited and served his time. You’ve got to retrieve man, erstwhile helium was present (early on), helium didn’t person idiosyncratic to propulsion him 24/7 similar Teddy did. No disrespect to everyone other that was here. But helium didn’t person that idiosyncratic to enactment his limb astir him and ticker movie with him.”
Lock besides expressed assurance successful his aboriginal arsenic a starting NFL quarterback.
“There’s not a play you can’t tally with me,” Lock said. “I tin marque a propulsion present and I tin marque a propulsion there. I was waiting for the accidental to amusement you guys I tin tally astir and they gave it to maine today. That’s not a astonishment to me. I tin spell into the locker room, person amusive with these guys, occurrence them up and get them acceptable to play. I consciousness similar that’s precisely what we saw contiguous retired there.”
Broncos wide manager George Paton indispensable determine the champion way guardant astatine quarterback. Will Lock get different shot? Will Denver beryllium progressive successful the escaped cause oregon commercialized market? Lock is lone focused connected the things helium tin control.
“There is without a uncertainty a instauration successful that locker room,” Lock said. “I’d similar to judge determination tin beryllium a instauration with maine successful it. But that’s not my choice.”