As if Thursday night's showdown between the winless Denver Broncos and New York Jets couldn't get any more exciting, Denver will now start third-stringer Brett Rypien at quarterback. NFL Network's James Palmer first reported the news on Tuesday afternoon.

Vic Fangio confirmed the report, adding that he will “have the ability to mix Jeff [Driskel] in the game if we feel like we need to”—a strategy that definitely always works.

Driskel took over after QB1 Drew Lock injured his right rotator cuff during the team's Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lock is expected to return in Week 6, according to Palmer. The Broncos were hoping to use this season to evaluate his potential as a long-term starter, though injuries on both sides of the ball have quickly depleted the roster.

Driskel threw for 256 yards on 18 for 34 passing, two touchdowns and one interception after subbing in for Lock in Week 2. This past Sunday, he threw for 176 yards on 17 for 30 passing (5.87 yards per attempt), one TD and one pick in the 28-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Rypien, who went undrafted out of Boise State in 2019, replaced Driskel late in the game and got his first taste of regular season action. The rookie completed his first eight passes for 53 yards before tossing a pick.

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said on Monday that he was still deciding whether Driskel or Rypien would get the starting nod on Thursday. Late in his Tuesday press conference, Fangio tried to casually slip in the significant news.

Driskel has a 79.4 QB Rating in nine starts over three seasons with the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Broncos. His teams have a 1-8 record in those games.

Fortunately for Rypien, his first NFL start will come against a team that barely qualifies as “professional.” The Jets have the worst point differential (-57) in football through three weeks.

Rypien will be Denver's ninth starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired after winning Super Bowl 50 in Feb. 2016. He is the nephew of two-time Super Bowl champion passer Mark Rypien.

Denver signed veteran QB Blake Bortles last week, but Rypien's familiarity with the offense earned him the start in the Meadowlands.

 

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