ALL the QBs on the Broncos' roster are ineligible to play Sunday against the Saints because of COVID contact concerns
The Denver Broncos will face an unprecedented situation on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after all three of the teams' remaining quarterbacks were ruled out for the game because of COVID-19 concerns, according to a report from ESPN on Saturday night.
Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock, his backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were pulled off the practice field Saturday and sent home over concerns about their contact with QB Jeff Driskel, who is infected with COVID-19.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't addressed the situation publicly, confirmed a report by KUSA-TV in Denver that the three QBs were pulled out of practice before it ended Saturday.
The Broncos who are scheduled to host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday are working with the NFL 'to resolve the situation' but as of Saturday evening are ineligible to play in the game.
No change to the game's status has been announced.
Denver Broncos' quarterbacks Drew Lock (3) has been deemed ineligible to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints along with several of his teammates
Denver Broncos' quarterbacks Brett Rypien (4) of the Denver Broncos has also been deemed high-risk after being contact traced to someone with COVID
Practice squad quarterback Blake Bortles, pictured, was also deemed to be high risk and will not start
All three quarterbacks were on the field during the brief viewing period at the start of practice.
Driskel went on the COVID-19 list Thursday.
Coach Vic Fangio has said he wasn't concerned about his other quarterbacks getting sick because contact tracing showed they weren't in close contact with Driskel.
On Saturday morning, Fangio said the quarterbacks hadn't been within 6 feet of each other.
But further investigation by the NFL's medical team apparently raised concerns.
Concerns grew after quarterback Jeff Driskel, pictured, tested positive for the virus and was moved to the reserve list on Thursday morning
Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock and Brett Rypien join running backs LeVante Bellamy, Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay, left right, during the NFL football team's practice earlier this month
Lock, Rypien and Bortles have continued to test negative for the coronavirus.
All four, Lock, Rypien, Bortles and Driskel are usually closest to each other when the players stretch to open practices each day and are they are all next to each other in the front row at the same time.
The Broncos too have managed to conduct some socially distant position group meetings at their facility.
Fangio canceled practice Friday when kick returner Diontae Spencer tested positive for the virus along with two staff members.
Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman, left, is the team's emergency quarterback and wide receiver Kendall Hinton is also on the team's practice squad
On Saturday, Fangio said the quarterbacks are more than six feet apart from each other during meetings and that 'all our meetings are set up to where everybody's spread out.'
The news on the quarterbacks broke Saturday about the same time the Broncos announced they had signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year contract extension.
Bolles, a former first round draft pick, has shown dramatic improvement this season.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio has previously said running back Royce Freeman is the team's emergency quarterback.
The Broncos also could rely upon running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay in the wildcat formation.
The team also have wide receiver Kendall Hinton on their practice squad.
ESPN reportedBroncos offensive quality control coach Rob Calabrese ran the offense during practice Saturday. Calabrese played quarterback at Central Florida and could be an out-of-the-box option to join the Broncos' active roster as an emergency signal-caller.
Head coach Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos has said the quarterbacks are more than six feet apart from each other during meetings and that 'all our meetings are set up to where everybody's spread out.'