Drew Lock knows he can’t keep turning the ball over at his current rate. Not if the second-year quarterback wants his job totally secure heading into 2021.
The Broncos are last in the NFL with 21 interceptions, and Lock has 13 of those, second-worst behind benched Eagles QB Carson Wentz. All of Lock’s picks have come over his last seven starts to make for an-NFL worst interception streak, and Lock also ranks last at 1.44 picks per game among league QBs with at least eight starts.
“I need to take better care of the football, for sure, and that’s (the) No. 1 (priority),” Lock said.
In particular, Lock admitted he needs to be more risk-averse, especially when throwing on the run or under duress.
“If (a vertical shot) is there, I’m going to take it, but if I need to hit a checkdown for two-to-four (yards) instead of forcing the ball downfield, that’s what I need to do,” Lock said. “I like extending plays but I need to be better on when to extend it, and when I do extend it, seeing if this is a throw that’s going to help us stay on the field and keep progressing or if it’s a risky one that’s going to get us off the field.”
Lock, who threw three picks in five starts as a rookie, said he reviews his interceptions multiple times on film. More often than not, those reviews reveal what most at home can easily see: Lock is forcing the ball into coverage.
“They hurt, they sting,” Lock said. “You know they’re big points in the game and they’re throws you want back, so it’s tough to go back and watch that multiple times. But you have to, because you have to learn from it and see where your mistakes are coming from… It’s something that I’m still developing but I feel like I’m also getting better with time.”
Jerry Jeudy’s frustration. In a since-deleted tweet sent out late Sunday night, Broncos rookie wideout Jerry Jeudy said “at least I got my conditioning in” and tacked on a shrugging emoji as well. Jeudy had one catch for five yards in the loss to the Chiefs after posting no receptions the week before against New Orleans.
Fangio, who is not on social media and wasn’t aware of Jeudy’s tweet, took no issue with it. And he doesn’t believe Jeudy has “hit the wall at all,” despite being “nicked a little bit” with an ankle injury the past couple weeks.
“Against (New Orleans), obviously he wasn’t going to get many balls thrown to him that day (with no true quarterbacks available),” Fangio said. “I just think he’d like to have more catches, and I don’t know of any receiver that doesn’t feel that way. I’m glad he’s a little frustrated that he’s not getting more production, because we want our guys to feel that way… I’m okay with Jerry. He’s in a good spot.”
Jeudy has 38 catches for 594 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, with his best game coming in Atlanta in Week 9 as he posted seven catches for 125 yards and a score.
Glasgow sits. Right guard Graham Glasgow (toe/foot), right tackle Demar Dotson (day off/hand) and inside linebacker Mark Barron (illness) did not practice.
Jeudy (ankle), safety Trey Marshall (shin) and outside linebacker Malik Reed (ankle) were limited. Marshall practiced for the first time since being injured Nov. 22 against Miami.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel and returner/receiver Diontae Spencer remain on the COVID-19/reserve list.
McCaffrey limited. Carolina running back/Castle Rock native Christian McCaffrey was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday because of a quad issue.
McCaffrey missed six games (ankle), returned for one game and missed the last three (shoulder).
“I think he might have tweaked (the quad) last week (during the Panthers’ bye), felt good going into (Wednesday) and got out there and it got tight on him,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule told reporters. “From what I know right now, we’ll handle it day-by-day and see if he’s able to play with the quad.”
Footnotes. The Broncos placed cornerback Essang Bassey (knee) on injured reserve. Outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka, out the last six games (hamstring), was designated as returning to practice from injured reserve. … Carolina has six players on its COVID-19/reserve list, including receivers DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel and linebacker Shaq Thompson.
Staff writer Ryan O’Halloran contributed to this story.
