Idaho ties in the NFL: Some want this Boise State alum to serve as backup QB in Denver

Some fans and media members in Denver would like to see a change at quarterback.

Backup QB, that is.

After Drew Lock turned in another poor performance as the backup to starter Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday, a case is being made for Boise State alum Brett Rypien to take over as the guy behind Bridgewater.

But so far, the coaching staff isn’t buying it.

“Brett Rypien should be the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback starting Sunday at Kansas City and (Drew) Lock should only play because of injuries to Bridgewater and Rypien. Period,” wrote Denver Post reporter Ryan O’Halloran. “Lock is 0-for-2 in his relief appearances this year and Sunday was a train-wreck, giving (Denver) coach Vic Fangio no reason to trust him.”

The Broncos defeated the L.A. Chargers 28-13 on Sunday, but Lock put that win in danger with a fumble and an interception after Bridgewater suffered a shin injury. In two appearances this season, Lock has a passer rating of just 40.6, with two interceptions and four sacks.

“Because of Lock’s ineptitude in two relief appearances and the fact that the coaching staff clearly doesn’t trust him, it’s time for Brett Rypien to suit up against the Kansas City Chiefs as the primary backup to Teddy Bridgewater,” wrote Sayre Bedinger for predominantlyorange.com.

Rypien has not appeared in a regular-season game this year, but he did play in three games in 2020, including one start. In 2020, Rypien completed 27-of-40 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions, for a passer rating of 66.1.

On Monday, Fangio said Lock will remain the No. 2 quarterback.

“It’s different for a guy who’s never come off the bench,” Fangio told Sports Illustrated. “In this case, we’re probably not giving him enough reps during the week. Not to make an excuse for him, but he’s got to learn to do better at that. Maybe some of that is we need to have a better list of what he feels comfortable operating with, running, and calling.”

BOISE STATE

TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Came off the bench and caught one pass for 15 yards and made a tackle when Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke was intercepted in the second quarter. Bates played 48 snaps on offense (57%) and four on special teams (17%) as Washington defeated Seattle 17-15.

G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 55 snaps on offense and three on special teams (11%). Cleveland was credited with a tackle of 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he intercepted Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins in a 24-16 loss to San Francisco.

CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Came off the bench and collected four total tackles while playing 70 snaps on defense (85%) in the Rams’ 36-28 loss to Green Bay.

OL, Marcus Henry, No. 53 Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals had a Week 12 bye.

WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 10-7 loss to the N.Y. Giants.

DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Lawrence is expected to return from a broken foot, which he suffered in practice after Week 1, when the Cowboys play at New Orleans on Thursday.

OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Started at left tackle and played all 84 snaps on offense and two on special teams (8%) in Washington’s 17-15 win over Seattle.

RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Came off the bench and contributed seven carries for 21 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Mattison also caught two passes for 7 yards and returned one kickoff for 18 yards while playing 22 snaps on offense (40%) and six on special teams (21%) in the Vikings’ 24-16 loss to San Francisco.

RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: McNichols was on the inactive list (concussion) for the second straight week as the Titans fell 36-13 to New England.

DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: Moa is a member of the Giants’ practice squad and was not called up for their 10-7 win over Philadelphia.

G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Molchon is a member of the Bucs’ practice squad and was not called up for their 38-31 win over Indianapolis.

C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Paradis suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9.

QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was not on the Broncos’ active list for their 28-13 win over the L.A. Chargers.

S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys: Thompson was taken off the practice squad injury list Monday. He hurt his hamstring in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay.

ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals had a Week 12 bye.

LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at outside linebacker and totaled three tackles while playing 53 snaps on defense (61%) and 10 on special teams (24%) in the Cowboys’ 36-33 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 16-10 loss to Baltimore.

CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Came off the bench and returned one punt for 3 yards, made a fair catch and returned four kickoffs for 91 yards while also adding an assisted tackle on special teams. Williams played 13 snaps on special teams (59%) as the Falcons beat Jacksonville 21-14.

WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Started at receiver and led the Cowboys in receptions (7) and receiving yards (104) while playing 54 snaps on offense (73%) and five on special teams (12%). He also returned two punts for 16 yards and made two fair catches. Wilson’s 51-yard catch in the second quarter was the Cowboys’ longest play of the game.

IDAHO

WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 21-14 loss to Atlanta.

G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Started at right tackle and was credited with a fumble recovery while playing all 74 snaps on offense and six on special teams (21%) as the Dolphins defeated Carolina 33-10.

LB, Christian Elliss, No. 53 Philadelphia Eagles: Elliss was re-signed to the Eagles’ practice squad on Nov. 24.

LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Came off the bench and sacked Bills quarterback Josh Allen for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter. Elliss played nine snaps on defense (14%) and seven on special teams (32%) as the Saints lost 31-6 to Buffalo.

DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: Came off the bench and totaled two tackles while playing 41 snaps on defense (49%) in the Seahawks’ 17-15 loss to Washington.

RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: Came off the bench and made two tackles on special teams while playing five snaps on offense (8%) and 14 on special teams (74%) in the Giants’ 10-7 win over Philadelphia.

HIGH SCHOOLS

DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 94 Cleveland Browns: After making his first regular-season appearance last week, Gustin came off the bench again this week, finishing with one tackle while playing 17 snaps on defense (21%) and 14 on special teams (58%) in the Browns’ 16-10 loss to Baltimore.

QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Hill did not play in the Saints’ 31-6 loss to Buffalo because he is dealing with a plantar fascia injury, according to multiple reports. Despite the injury, the NFL Network is reporting Hill is likely to start at quarterback on Thursday against Dallas.

OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), Cleveland Browns: Hoge is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 16-10 loss to Baltimore.

DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Togiai was on the Browns’ inactive list for their 16-10 loss to Baltimore.

Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.