Denver Broncos lost their starting QB to injury. What does that mean for Brett Rypien?
When Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock went down with an injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 26-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, many Boise State football fans probably had a similar thought.
Could this be Brett Rypien’s big break?
Lock is expected to miss three to five weeks with a severe strain of the rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder. Backup Jeff Driskel, a fifth-year quarterback out of Louisiana Tech, replaced Lock on Sunday, throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Rypien was not on the active roster for Sunday’s game. He was cut from the Broncos’ 53-man roster Sept. 5 and resigned to the practice squad the following day after clearing waivers. He spent most of his rookie season on the Broncos’ practice squad in 2019. He was on the active roster for three games last season as a backup against the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills but did not take a snap.
So what does Lock’s injury mean for Rypien?
▪ For Denver’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday (2:25 p.m. MT) at Mile High, Rypien is likely to serve as Driskel’s backup. How long he remains on the active roster after that is up for debate.
▪ Mike Klis of 9News in Denver and Jeff Legwold of ESPN are reporting that Denver plans to sign former Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles. If Bortles doesn’t make it through COVID-19 testing, quarantine protocols and a physical in time for the game against the Bucs, Rypien would be called up for the game and then sent back down without the risk of losing him on waivers, according to Klis.
▪ Legwold says Bortles has already agreed to a one-year deal with the Broncos but won’t be able to attend practice or meetings until Friday or Saturday because of the protocols. Bortles must take multiple COVID-19 tests over a period of four days before being cleared, leaving a short window for him to prepare for Sunday’s game. Legwold said that once Bortles is cleared, he will serve as Driskel’s backup, sending Rypien back to the practice squad.
All signs point to Rypien suiting up for the Broncos on Sunday against the Bucs. How long the callup lasts is less clear.
News & Notes
▪ Running back Jeremy McNichols (Boise State) was sent back to the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad on Monday. McNichols was added to the Titans’ active roster for their Week 2 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars to add depth with fellow running back Darrynton Evans out with a hamstring injury. McNichols was on the field for 11 of the Titans’ 62 offensive snaps and totaled two carries for 7 yards.
▪ Defensive end Porter Gustin (Emmett High) received praise for his performance in the Cleveland Browns’ 35-30 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday. Gustin replaced Adrian Clayborn, who left the game with a hip injury. The former USC star finished with four total tackles, one tackle for loss and a QB hit in 63 total snaps. He would have earned his first sack of the season, too, but a penalty wiped it out.
“With Porter you know you are going to get an honest day’s work,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday on ClevelandBrowns.com. “Effort is there from whistle to whistle, snap to whistle, I should say. He is a very diligent worker. He is going to be where he is supposed to be.
“He just kept making plays every chance he was out there, and I think it is starting to show up a little bit in these games.”
IDAHO TIES IN THE NFL
BOISE STATE
T, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings
OLB, Kamalei Correa, No. 40 Tennessee Titans
DL, Tyrone Crawford, No. 98 Dallas Cowboys
DB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams (practice squad)
QB, Ryan Finley, No. 5 Cincinnati Bengals
C, Marcus Henry, No. 62 Dallas Cowboys (practice squad)
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys
LT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Chicago Bears
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings
RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans
DT, David Moa, Atlanta Falcons (practice squad)
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (reserve/injured)
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers
WR, A.J. Richardson, No. 83 Arizona Cardinals (practice squad)
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos (practice squad)
S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys
ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys (reserve/injured)
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 61 Cleveland Browns (reserve/injured)
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 11 Dallas Cowboys
DL, Billy Winn, No. 93 Green Bay Packers (practice squad)
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 80 Los Angeles Chargers (practice squad)
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77, Miami Dolphins
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints
G, Mike Iupati, No. 70 Seattle Seahawks
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 95 Seattle Seahawks
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants
IDAHO STATE
TE, Josh Hill (Blackfoot High), No. 89 New Orleans Saints
HIGH SCHOOLS
DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 97 Cleveland Browns
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints
DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), No. 62 Los Angeles Rams (practice squad)
