Two players made their long-awaited debuts as the Denver Broncos practiced on Tuesday: rookie quarterback Drew Lock and free agent cornerback Bryce Callahan.

Related players: Brandon Allen

Lock landed on injured reserve to start the season after spraining his right thumb during an exhibition game against San Francisco in mid-August. The Broncos will have to make a decision on his status by Dec. 3. If they don’t activate him by that date, he’ll stay on IR and his season will be over. Reports seem to indicate Lock will activated at some point and it makes sense the Broncos would like to get a look at him this season.

The Broncos are going to be without quarterback Joe Flacco for several more weeks (5-6), and he’s getting checked to see how many.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Flacco is getting a second opinion from Dr. Jack Kelley today on the herniated disc in his neck.

Related players: Brandon Allen, Drew Lock

Allen is expected to start this week but many think it will be Lock who eventually takes over, especially of Flacco is looking at missing several weeks. The team will also need to decide if keeping a roster spot open for Flacco is worth it. Flacco doesn't need surgery and the injury isn't career-threatening.

Just a day after he passionately criticized the team's coaching staff for overly-conservative decision-making, the Denver Broncos announced that quarterback Joe Flacco will be out for the team's Week 9 game against the Cleveland Browns. According to multiple reports, Flacco has a herniated disc in his neck and will be re-evaluated during the bye week, at which point it is possible that he could be placed on injured reserve.

Related players: Brandon Allen, Drew Lock

Allen will make the start in Week 9 the story said, but it's possible Lock could step in when he comes off IR later this season.

Broncos QB Drew Lock likely to practice next week.

Related players: Theo Riddick, Jake Butt

Klis said he never saw Lock at practice so his activation clock hasn't started yet - the same went for RB Theo Riddick and TE Jake Butt. The Broncos can only activate two of those three players.

Broncos boss John Elway told reporters last night that rookie quarterback Drew Lock would be placed on injured reserve today because of his preseason thumb injury. That will keep him from practicing for at least six weeks and out of at least eight games, so they’ll have to find a backup for Joe Flacco since they released Kevin Hogan yesterday.

Elway also said that tight end Jake Butt and running back Theo Riddick would join Lock on injured reserve today, giving them three roster spots to add, in addition to any shuffling they may want to do with waiver claims.

The Broncos will need a backup to Flacco. Lock's season isn't lost the team said. He'll be able to do everything other than be on the football field, so the team expects him to learn the offense and understand what's going on.

While speaking after practice Friday, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio was asked about rookie quarterback Drew Lock and he was quite honest about Lock. Per Mike Klis of 9News, Fangio said of Lock "his college offense had no carryover to pro offenses. He was under duress a lot ... I don’t think he’s as far along being an NFL-ready QB as he could have been. … He’s not a QB yet. He’s a hard-throwing pitcher who doesn’t know how to pitch yet.’’

Not that there was much of a chance Lock would unseat Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback this season anyway, but this quote from Fangio shows Lock has a long way to go before becoming a starter. It speaks to why he went from a presumably top-ten pick in the draft among those in the media to the No. 42 selection. The issues with Lock's contract didn't help his cause either. Either way, there is not a lot of love, fantasy-wise, for the quarterback situation in Denver, despite the weapons on offense. Flacco is ranked No. 30 among quarterbacks, while Lock is not in the current top 41.

When the Denver Broncos open training camp Thursday, the team may do so without second-round draft picks Dalton Risner and Drew Lock, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis first reported Tuesday. The news has since been confirmed by multiple media outlets.

Risner, who is projected to be the starting left guard this season, was selected 41st overall, one pick before Lock at No. 42. Being that he was a higher selection, Risner wants to be paid more than Lock.

Lock, a quarterback, wants more guaranteed money than his new teammate because QBs are usually among the highest-paid positions in the NFL. That’s also fair, but it’s debatable if it’s worth holding out over.

Related players: Joe Flacco

While Flacco is likely the starter, Lock will obviously miss key time in camp if he's not there. He's expected to be the backup QB this season with Kevin Hogan and Brett Rypien the only other QBs on the roster. Rookies are to report Wednesday.