"Everything is on the table" as the Broncos consider disciplining their quarterbacks

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If all continues to go to plan, the Denver Broncos will have a quarterback under center against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

Of course, the Broncos did not have a single quarterback eligible for their game against the New Orleans Saints.

Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were pulled from Saturday’s practice and declared ineligible to play against the Saints on Sunday after being deemed high-risk close contacts with Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for COVID-19. The three were deemed high-risk close contacts for a meeting that took place on Tuesday where masks and social distancing were “lax.”

“We’re all disappointed that it happened. It’s not just Drew. I know Drew’s getting the bulk of it because he’s the starter, but there were four of them in there and you would like for one of them to take the lead and make sure that they’re spaced out far enough,” Vic Fangio said on Monday about the incident. “But again, it’s just like with my kids. My kids have done things that have disappointed me during their upbringings, but I still love them and I still love Drew and all of the quarterbacks. They made a mistake that we’re ready to move past on.”

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. And missing Sunday’s game and forcing their team to play without a quarterback may not be the final punishment.

On Monday, Fangio said the Broncos are considering disciplining their quarterbacks. However, the team wants to see if the NFL will hand out their own punishment and if not, “then we’ll take our measures,” Fangio stated.

When asked specifically if the punishment could be a suspension, fine or the quarterbacks sitting out an additional game, Fangio said, “Everything is on the table.”

“But, right now I would say it’s more of the fine route,” the head coach added.

After having to turn to practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton to fill in at quarterback, the Broncos not have yet discussed placing Bortles, the team’s practice squad quarterback, into isolation for the rest of the season to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.

“But that’s something we will discuss,” Fangio said. “I think if we just follow the protocols, we’ll be fine.”

If Lock, Rypien and Bortles test negative on Tuesday, as they did on Monday, they will be allowed to rejoin the team and prepare for Sunday’s game against the 10-1 Chiefs.