Report: Drew Lock to start practicing this week

The Denver Broncos will finally get a chance to see more of Drew Lock as he will practice this week, per Vic Fangio.

Lock hasn’t practiced since August when he was placed on injured reserve after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand in the preseason game against the 49ers.

This is consistent from what we have heard from the Broncos coaches and front office, as they wanted to wait until after the bye week to start practicing him. Per IR rules, Denver has 21 days to practice Lock if they want, before he will officially be activated off of Injured Reserve as one of their “designated to return” players (teams only get two per year).

The prevailing thought has always been that Lock would be activated after the bye, practice for two weeks while the team plays some tough games on the road, and then potentially see the field at home against the Chargers, three weeks from now. This seems to still be shaping up that way, but we’ll see.

Regardless of exactly when he steps in, it looks as though Denver fans are going to get to see Drew Lock play quarterback for the Broncos this year.

Update:

Here is the full exchange from Fangio and the media at his news conference today:

On QB Drew Lock’s status on injured reserve

“He’s going to start practicing.”

On how many reps he expects Lock to take in practice

“We’ll try to get him as many as we can. Some of that will be scout team, too. You’ve got to remember this guy hasn’t taken a snap or been in the huddle since the middle of August.”

On if there is a mapped-out plan for Lock’s return to the active roster

“No, it’s not mapped because it’s going to be determined by how he looks and what we think.”

On why now is a good time for Lock to start practicing

“Because we had that bye week last week. If we would have brought him back earlier, that would have counted as a week of practice even though we didn’t practice. That was part of that whole equation there.”

On if Lock will for sure be brought back from injured reserve

“He’ll be determined as one of the two that we can bring off IR. That doesn’t mean that he’ll be activated.”

On what he needs to see from Lock in practice to activate him

“Good quarterback play and that he belongs.”

On if he’ll know whether Lock should be activated when he sees it in practice

“Yeah, really. That’s the truth.”

On if he will try and create practice reps for Lock while preparing QB Brandon Allen to start

“Yeah, plus you have the scout team to work with, too.”

On if the way Allen plays can influence the decision on whether to activate Lock

“That’s part of the equation also.”

On if Allen is playing well and winning games can impact what they will do with Lock

“Yes.”

On if he still feels the team can compete for a postseason spot and if that influences Lock’s timeline

“Our whole focus is trying to get to 4-6. As bad as that sounds, we’re trying to win the game we play this week. Whether that includes or doesn’t include Drew down the road remains to be seen.”