Broncos lose all 4 QBs to COVID-19 protocols

All four Denver Broncos quarterbacks are ineligible to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday due to COVID-19 protocols.

Drew Lock, Brett Rypien, and Blake Bortles were deemed high-risk close contacts to Jeff Driskel, the team announced Saturday. Driskel tested positive Thursday, while his fellow quarterbacks had to be sidelined for not wearing masks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Broncos won't forfeit the contest, a source told Schefter, and the game hasn't been postponed.

The NFL instructed the Broncos to remove Lock, Rypien, and Bortles from the practice field Saturday before the session began as the league reviewed contact tracing.

Denver is likely to use Kendall Hinton - a practice squad wide receiver who played quarterback at Wake Forest - on an emergency basis, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Third-string running back Royce Freeman is considered the Broncos' emergency quarterback and could also take snaps, reports Mike Klis of 9News.

Former UCF passer Rob Calabrese, who graduated in 2012 and works for Denver as an offensive quality control coach, ran the offense Saturday at practice. The NFL won't allow the Broncos to sign Calabrese to the active roster, according to Klis. Denver can't sign a free agent because of the mandatory five-day incubation period in light of the pandemic.

All the news unfolded while the Saints were on a plane traveling to Denver.