Drew Lock to start in Broncos preseason opener vs. Vikings, Teddy Bridgewater to start next week

Denver wants to see both quarterbacks in the starting role

Both Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater will get to show the Broncos brass what it looks like when they are given the starting reps. On Tuesday, head coach Vic Fangio told reporters that Lock will start on Saturday when the team opens up the preseason against the Minnesota Vikings. He then added that Bridgewater will follow suit and start for Denver the following week against Seattle. Fangio said Lock getting the first nod is for "the same reason that we gave him the first-team snap of the first practice," highlighting that he is the incumbent starter. 

Fangio went on to say he was still unsure how much both quarterbacks will actually play in the preseason opener, but each will likely either play with the starting offensive line or with players contending for a starting spot. 

"You have a hope, but what happens in these preseason games [is] sometimes you go out there and get a couple three-and-outs, and the other team's driving it on you, so you can't go by quarters and series and stuff," Fangio said. "You've got to try to go by plays as best you can, because it can get skewed one way or the other. You [could] have a 12-play drive on the first opening drive — so we'll keep a running tab during the game."

To this point, it doesn't appear like either quarterback has separated himself enough for there to be a clear leader in the clubhouse to eventually be named the starter for the regular-season opener. When talking about the competition, Fangio said it was still "even steven." Both Bridgewater and Lock have had their moments, but no one is consistently pulling away with the gig. That said, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur did recently commend Lock for being the "best version" of the young quarterback he's seen yet, albeit in the same breath as he complimented Bridgewater. 

"I've seen both guys getting better. This is the best version of Drew I've seen. He's done a really good job," Shurmur said, via Mike Klis of 9News. "And I expected Teddy to come in ... Teddy's got experience, he's got experience in multiple offenses." 

While Denver has toed the line by complimenting both quarterbacks, there should be some merit thrown in the direction of Lock with him getting the first crack in the opener. Will that ultimately lead to him starting Week 1? The play over these next few weeks will give us the answer.