The Broncos are not putting quarterback Drew Lock on injured reserve as they beleive he could possibly return in less than three weeks.

This is a good sign for Lock and the Broncos. A trip to the IR would knock him out for a minimum of three games so it appears there is some optimism Lock could return over the course of the next two weeks. The report notes that the possibility remains Lock misses 4 or more games so this is no guarantee Denver's optimism will prove correct. The Broncos will start Jeff Driskel on Sunday with newly-signed Blake Bortles slotting in as his backup.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will miss the remainder of the season. Sutton had missed the season opener with a right shoulder injury suffered Sept. 8 in practice and had been limited in practice in the days leading up to Sunday's game.

Additionally, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock will miss 3 to 5 weeks with a severe strain of the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, an injury he suffered in the first quarter Sunday.

Related players: Jerry Jeudy, Jeff Driskel, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton

Sutton missed Week 1 with a shoulder injury and the news wasn't looking good after he suffered a knee injury in Week 2. That news was confirmed today as Sutton will now miss the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, QB Lock will miss 3-5 weeks with Driskel taking over in that time. With Sutton out, Jeudy, Hamler, Patrick and Hamilton take over. They are certainly talented names, but will take a bit of a hit with Driskel at QB. Perhaps RB Melvin Gordon sees and increase in workload.

Broncos’ QB Drew Lock suffered a severe rotator cuff strain and will be sidelined at least two weeks before his injury is re-evaluated again, per source.

Related players: Jeff Driskell

Driskell now slated to be Denver’s starting QB on Sunday vs. Tampa. The team will also be without Courtland Sutton at wide receiver, leaving perhaps a heavy workload for RB Melvin Gordon, but against a good Bucs defense.

The Denver Broncos are experiencing some trouble this Sunday in their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as quarterback Drew Lock returned to the locker room after sustaining a right shoulder injury. Shortly after, the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game.

Related players: Jeff Driskel

Lock immediately headed to the locker room after sustaining the injury, and was replaced by Driskel. Driskel started against the Steelers as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 of the 2018 season, and spent the 2019 season with the Detroit Lions.

Drew Lock/Courtland Sutton. The first 11-on-11 play of training camp was a pass to Sutton and the duo are trending the right away. The in-sync part is important because I haven’t seen a glaring miscommunication between Lock and Sutton yet, which is a good sign considering the new playbook.

Lock/Jerry Jeudy. Agreed on your “getting there” analysis. They’ve had several nice completions, the same for Jeudy and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel.

Lock/K.J. Hamler. A tough break for the offense and for Hamler, who is out multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and whose status for Week 1 is in doubt. When Hamler gets back to practice, he and Lock will have to start over.

With Hamler out, the story said guys like tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam and Jake Butt and receivers Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton and Tyrie Cleveland have all picked up the slack. Lock had time with Sutton last year so it makes sense they are on the same page. Jeudy will be a key to the offense as he and Lock look to get more comfortable with one another.

If Drew Lock finishes the season like he started it, there is no reason to draft a quarterback early.

Lock has looked very good over the last few weeks and if it keeps up over the rest of the season, the Broncos can use those early picks to find a combination of immediate starters and depth options. It’s a golden chance for John Elway to find key contributors, Ryan O'Halloran said in his weekly mailbag.

Denver Post beat writer Ryan O'Halloran answered a question about Drew Lock:

The Broncos, of course, want Drew Lock to succeed and the current situation — chiefly, the leaky pass protection — may be giving John Elway, Vic Fangio and Co., pause about when to start Lock. I would start Brandon Allen against the Chargers and then hand the keys to Lock for the final four games.

Obviously this is just the writer's plan, but he feels letting Lock take in a game as a backup first would be better than throwing him in a game when activated - especially with a lost season already.

Vic Fangio said Monday “all options are on the table” regarding rookie Drew Lock.

He could get his first start Sunday.

He could be Brandon Allen’s backup.

Related players: Brett Rypien

Fangio said the decision will be made in the next few days. The team has until Dec. 3 to activate Lock, who is coming off a thumb injury. The story said the team could turn to Rypien who is healthy and has practice all season.