The Denver Broncos journey to MetLife Stadium Thursday to face the New York Jets. Both teams are winless and displaying different forms of futility.
The Broncos, in particular, have shown an astonishing inability to maintain a starting quarterback since 2017.
When Brett Rypien, an undrafted free agent from Boise State in 2019, makes the start at QB, he will become the ninth starting QB for the Broncos since 2017.
The list isn’t Hall of Fame worthy.
In 2017, Trevor Siemian made 10 starts, Brock Osweiler four, and Paxton Lynch, a first-round draft pick, two.
The fact that nine have started is almost incomprehensible when you realize Case Keenum was the starter in all 16 games in 2018.
That was followed by another trifecta last year. Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco got the call in eight games. That was followed by Brandon Allen (three), and second-round pick Drew Lock, who won four of five starts and appeared to be the answer at signal-caller.
Lock started the 2020 season and was subsequently injured against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was replaced that game by Jeff Driskel, who started in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Driskel didn’t score enough points with Head Coach Vic Fangio, who is giving the starting nod to Rypien.
While this QB carousel has spun, Denver has gone 18-33. Not the results Hall of Famer and current Broncos boss John Elway expects.