Broncos Drew Lock impressed early in preseason win

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock started hot in a preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. The former Missouri Tigers star threw for two touchdowns and 151 yards in limited action. His competition for the starting quarterback position, Teddy Bridgewater threw for a touchdown of his own and 74 yards. The Broncos beat the Vikings 33-6 in their preseason matchup.

Denver Broncos start Drew Lock

The quarterback situation in Denver is a little bit clearer following their preseason game with the Minnesota Vikings. The team continued to use Lock as their starter and his performance indicated he is ready for it. In limited playing time Lock threw for 5 of 7 completions, 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Lock was the Denver Broncos starter for the 2020 NFL season playing 13 games and ending with a disappointing 4-9 record. After missing most of the 2019 season with injury, Lock returned to the team’s active roster and started the final five games of their season. He finished his rookie season with a 4-1 record and tying legendary quarterback John Elway as the only Broncos rookie quarterbacks to win four games.

The Broncos enter the 2021 season with a decision to make at the starting position. While Lock was drafted with the intent to lead their team, the issues faced by Denver in the 2020 season raised questions. In 18 starts, Lock has thrown 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Only averaging 219.6 yards per game and being sacked 24 times has translated into a slow start to his NFL career.

Drew Lock at Missouri

Selected by the Broncos with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, Lock’s college career was highly ranked in SEC football history. The Missouri Tigers quarterback finished his college playing career ranked second all-time for passing yards in SEC history, and third all-time in passing touchdowns. His career stats of 99 touchdowns and only 39 interceptions gave him a passer rating of 138.8 entering the NFL.

His career success wasn’t simply a matter of longevity either, he owns 10 of the top 25 single game passing records in Missouri’s history. This includes his school record 521 yards and seven touchdown game in 2017 against Missouri State. While the Broncos haven’t given him complete freedom in the team’s passing attack yet, he is no stranger to leading a team with his arm. He led the SEC in passing attempts three straight years before leaving for the NFL.

Photo by Aaron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images