won’t say it outright, but he knows he’s in prove-it mode once again.
After being replaced by Lamar Jackson in Baltimore during the 2018 season, Flacco was traded to Denver in the offseason. But another injury-shortened year led to him being supplanted again, as the Broncos are set on Drew Lock as the team’s No. 1 quarterback heading into 2020.
So, Flacco is ready to do whatever is necessary to keep a job, even if that means being a backup to Lock or someone else in 2020. The 34-year-old is under contract with Denver through 2021.
“If that’s what it has to be — (a backup) whether here or wherever — I want to play football,” Flacco said Monday. “If that’s what it has to take for me to get back in and start playing again, then yeah, I’d go that route.”
First, though, there’s the issue of his injury. After going 2-6 as a starter with a 85.1 rating, Flacco was placed on season-ending injured reserve Nov. 1 with a herniated disc in his neck. Flacco said he’s been working out with no effects from the injury, and will have another MRI after the to determine if surgery is needed. Regardless, his aim is to be ready for the 2020 season.
“I don’t have any residual effect from the actual injury,” Flacco said. “I don’t know if that makes it better or worse — in one sense, it’s nice I’m not walking around in pain, but in the other sense it’s annoying that I feel pretty normal but I can’t play.
“The plan is to get better and figure out a little bit more about what’s going on. I’m going to get another MRI and then make some decisions from there in about a month, month and a half. At this point, I’m optimistic about getting better.”
But Flacco’s health could be a moot point for the Broncos, who feel they have found their quarterback of the future in Lock.
Head coach said Lock has “done enough to show that he definitely could be the guy”, and general manager echoed that sentiment Monday when asked whether Lock will be the starter heading into 2020.
“We’re excited about where Drew is,” Elway said. “I don’t like to show our hand, but I think itap unrealistic to say that we’re going a different direction.”
When pressed further about the future of Flacco — who made $18.5 million this season — Elway said “we’ll look at that and see whatap best.” The Broncos restructured the quarterback’s contract at the end of August, and with that, the team would absorb $13.6 million in “dead money” if Flacco is released next March.
“We’ll take the time and evaluate everything,” Elway said regarding Flacco.
As for Lock, Flacco admitted he saw the spark the rookie provided for Denver down the stretch. Lock was 4-1 in his five starts.
“Drew showed a lot about who he is down the last few weeks of the season,” Flacco said.
