The Denver Broncos became the latest NFL team to decide on their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. Broncos opted for veteran Teddy Bridgewater, who got the coach Vic Fangio’s confidence ahead of 2019’s second-round pick Drew Lock.
Fangio informed the team about his decision on Wednesday, with the Broncos confirming the news on their social media shortly after.
Lock started 13 games for the Broncos last season, throwing for 2,933 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, he threw 15 interceptions, tied for most in the league in 2020, while ranking last among starters in completion percentage with 57.3 percent.
Lock’s struggles prompted Denver’s front office to start searching competition for the young signal-caller. They ended up settling for Bridgewater, sending Carolina Panthers a sixth-round pick to acquire him.
Both Bridgewater and Lock had a strong postseason, prompting Fangio to label the competition for the starting job an “Even Steven.”
Bridgewater got to play four series in two preseason games, completing 16-of-19 passes and throwing for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Lock, on the other hand, was 14-of-21 with 231 passing yards and two TDs as well.
Still, it looks like Bridgewater showed more than Lock throughout the preseason to get an edge for the Week 1 start. This means that the 28-year-old player will register starts for three different teams in three years after he previously started five games for New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 15 games for the Panthers in 2020.
