The Denver Broncos found themselves in uncharted waters on Sunday when the COVID-19 pandemic made its biggest impact on the NFL so far. One day before the Broncos were slated to play the New Orleans Saints, Jeff Driskel tested positive for the virus, and the other three quarterbacks in the Broncos room were deemed to have been high-risk close contacts.
This meant the Broncos were left without an active NFL quarterback to take on the Saints. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, they also wouldn’t have been able to sign one off the street. There’s a mandatory grace period before they would be allowed to participate in team activities, and it would hold any new signings out until Thursday.
While many called for the game to be rescheduled, it is believed that the unfortunate situation came to be based on poor COVID-19 prevention practices. On Sunday, Broncos usual starter Drew Lock addressed the issue in an apologetic message.
As a proud member of the Denver Broncos, I can attest that our entire team has taken the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, following all the rules to keep each other safe. We’re tested daily, get quick results, and are confident our facility is a safe environment for everyone.
In a controlled and socially distanced area, we let our masking slip for a limited amount of time. An honest mistake, but one I will own.
I sincerely apologize and I fully understand why these safety precautions are so important. Doing the right thing for a majority of the time is not good enough.
I pray for my teammates’ health, safety and success today. I look forward to getting back on the field next week. Go Broncos.
The Broncos were forced into starting Kendall Hinton, a practice squad wide receiver. He recorded 13 passing yard total, 7 rush yards, and threw two interceptions.
