When Drew Lock went down in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Denver Broncos season felt like it ended before it even had a chance to truly start.
However, second-year undrafted quarterback Brett Rypien stepped in on Thursday Night Football against the Jets and managed to win the game, keeping the Broncos’ season afloat. Rypien is expected to make the second start of his career on Sunday against the New England Patriots, but now Lock is back in practice throwing the ball and it looks like he could potentially be ready to go in time for kickoff.
Even if Lock doesn’t play on Sunday, he’s clearly close to returning to field, and Rypien has no problems with what that means for him.
“At the end of the day, I understand my role,” Rypien said at a press conference on Wednesday. “This is Drew Lock’s team. Drew Lock has been the leader of this franchise for the past year and he’s done an unbelievable job at that. From my standpoint, I have to do what I can to help him and help this team win, and if that means playing this week and helping our team win this week, that’s what I’m focused on. I don’t really look at it from the standpoint of him taking an opportunity away from me, I look at it like I’m getting an opportunity and if he comes back, then that’s an opportunity for me to help him.”
It’s rare to see a player in just their second season in the league showcase such an incredible level of maturity. To know that your role in the NFL is that of a backup and to have come to terms with that so quickly, must not be easy. It’s clear to see why the Broncos have pegged Rypien as the backup quarterback of the future since signing him as an undrafted free agent.