Coach Vic Fangio said Sunday that Lock (shoulder) will likely be ready to start for the Broncos in the team's next game Week 6 at New England, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports. "The extra week should help...we'll see how he progresses the next 72 hours, see how much better he gets, and go from there," Fangio said of Lock.

EDGE Analysis

The Patriots and Broncos were initially scheduled to play Sunday in Week 5, but due to three positive COVID-19 test results among New England players over the past week, the game was pushed back to Monday and then postponed to Week 6. The postponement created a de facto bye week for the Broncos, and few players on the team should benefit more from the extended break more than Lock, who had missed Denver's last two games with a right shoulder strain. Had the Broncos played Week 5, Fangio said Lock likely wouldn't be ready to go, but the signal-caller will likely have enough time to get healthy with Denver off the schedule until Oct. 18. Fangio hasn't decided whether Brett Rypien, Jeff Driskel or Blake Bortles will serve as Lock's top backup when the second-year quarterback is officially cleared to start again.

Lock (shoulder) and the Broncos won't play the Patriots on Monday after the game was postponed until Week 6 due to a third positive COVID-19 test in the New England organization within the past eight days, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Broncos and Patriots are now tentatively scheduled to play Sunday, Oct. 18 in Week 6, which was originally a scheduled bye week for New England. Denver, meanwhile, had been in line to host the Dolphins, but Miami now looks poised to take its bye Week 6. Lock (shoulder) had been listed as questionable heading into Monday's contest and was uncertain to play, but Denver's starting quarterback should be ready to return from a two-game absence if the Patriots are able to host the Broncos next weekend.

Lock (right shoulder) is listed as questionable for Monday's game.

EDGE Analysis

The extra day of preparation certainly appears to have benefitted the Broncos as Lock registered a second straight day of limited participation in practice. While Monday's matchup is likely a difficult one from a fantasy perspective, star cornerback Stephen Gilmore will not play after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, which could help Lock if he's able to take the field. The Broncos would certainly like the second-year QB to start if he's deemed healthy enough to, though fantasy mangers should still monitor his status ahead of the 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Coach Vic Fangio indicated Friday that Lock (right shoulder) has a chance to play in Monday's game against the Patriots, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fangio wants to see how the quarterback progresses leading up to game time, but the extra day of preparation afforded by the Broncos' Week 5 game being moved back from Sunday to Monday is helpful in that regard. If, however, the team decides to play it safe with Lock, Brett Rypien would receive a second straight start versus New England.

Lock (right shoulder) remained limited at practice Thursday, Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Lock is clearly moving in the right direction, coach Vic Fangio isn't quite ready to sign off on the QB returning to action in Week 4, noting that "besides just the throwing, which is the obvious evaluator, you also have to know if he's capable physically and mentally to take a hit or go to the ground." With that in mind, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News believes that Brett Rypien is trending toward starting Sunday's game against the Patriots. Added clarity on that front should arrive no later than Friday's final Week 5 injury report.

Lock (shoulder) will practice on a limited basis Wednesday, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lock's limited session Wednesday signifies his first recorded practice work since suffering a rotator/labral injury to his right throwing shoulder Week 2. The Broncos will evaluate Lock in practice as the week continues before making a final decision on his availability for Sunday's game in New England, but the second-year signal looks as though he has a legitimate chance of playing this weekend. Mike Klis of 9News Denver notes that Lock was cleared to resume throwing Monday, giving the Broncos additional hope that he might be ready to go after a two-game absence.

Lock was a spectator at the part of the Broncos' practice open to the media Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lock was knocked out of the Broncos' Week 2 loss in Pittsburgh with what was later termed a rotator/labral issue in his right throwing shoulder. The given timeline for a recovery was 2-to-6 weeks, so he reached the front end of that window this week. But Tuesday's session was an unofficial one, so Lock's true status won't be updated until Denver releases its first Week 5 injury report Wednesday. With Lock out of the lineup, Jeff Driskel started Week 3, Brett Rypien handled those duties Week 4, and Blake Bortles has been learning the system the past two weeks. If Lock us unable to return Sunday in New England, it's unclear who among the aforementioned trio will get the next shot to start under center.

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said Tuesday that Lock (shoulder) may be ready to play in Denver's Week 5 game Oct. 11 at New England, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Denver is facing a quick turnaround Week 4 with a Thursday night game against the Jets, so Lock will be sidelined for a second straight game with the strained right rotator cuff/labral injury he sustained in the Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh. The Broncos' decision not to place Lock on injured reserve had already implied the signal-caller had some hope of avoiding a three-game absence, but he'll still need to ramp up his practice activity next week to have a realistic chance at suiting up against New England. Fangio admitted that the Broncos have more hope that Lock will be ready to go for the Week 6 game against the Dolphins, so the 23-year-old is probably best viewed as doubtful for the Patriots game at this stage.

The Broncos don't plan to place Lock (shoulder) on injured reserve, as the organization believes he has a chance to return to action in less than three weeks, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lock's rotator cuff/labral injury will keep him sidelined for at least Weeks 3 and 4, after which he'll be re-evaluated ahead of the Broncos' Week 5 game against New England. The quarterback was provided with a loose 3-to-8-week timeline for his recovery after being diagnosed with the shoulder injury, so the possibility remains that he'll be sidelined until after the team's Week 8 bye. For the time being, Jeff Driskel will lead the Denver offense, with the newly signed Blake Bortles set to serve as his top backup.

Lock (shoulder) is slated to miss at least two weeks before the Broncos evaluate his injury again, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lock suffered a rotator/labral issue in his right shoulder during Sunday's loss to the Steelers. It looks as though the second-year signal-caller's earliest opportunity to retake the field will come Week 5 versus New England, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Broncos expect to have Lock back before their Week 8 bye. In the meantime, Jeff Driskel will line up under center for Denver. Even when Lock does return to action, he'll be forced to operate without top wideout Courtland Sutton, who suffered season-ending ACL and MCL tears Week 2.