LISTEN: Are Broncos planning on keeping Drew Lock on IR ice all year?

Reading between the lines of John Elway's recent remarks, could the Broncos' plan be to keep Drew Lock on ice through the duration of his rookie year?

(Podcast embedded below)

The Denver Broncos made what could turn out to be some fateful roster decisions this past weekend. On Monday, just days removed from cutting the roster down to the final 53 players, the team placed rookie second-round QB Drew Lock on injured reserve. 

Lock could be tapped as a short-term IR candidate to return mid-season and most fans assume without thought that of course, that's what the Broncos plan on doing come Week 9. 

However, reading between the lines of what GM John Elway had to say about it over the weekend, it doesn't sound like a certain eventuality at all. 

In the latest episode of the Huddle Up Podcast, Zack Kelberman and I dissect Elway's remarks with a critical ear. Reading between the lines, do the Broncos plan on bringing Lock back to the active roster eight weeks from now once his sprained throwing thumb heals up?

Or could it be that the team intends for Lock to 'redshirt' the entirety of his rookie year? Since Super Bowl 50, it seems as if Elway's decisions have prioritized the short-term and 'winning now' but as is evidenced by the 21 losses over the last two years, it's not a philosophy that has worked out for the Broncos. 

Can Elway afford to sacrifice the development of Drew Lock and what's best for the Broncos long-term in order to have the 'best 53' now and utilize that third spot on the QB depth chart on a player who, let's face it, is likely to be a depth piece who rarely sees the field at worst, or contributor on special teams at best? 

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