QB competition hasn’t changed Lock or Bridgewater’s mindset

Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater spoke to the media for the first time since the new season began and both aren’t letting a quarterback competition steer their focus away.

Drew Lock said he’s doing everything he can to get the Denver Broncos back to the playoffs

— Kendall Valenzuela (@kvalenzuela17) May 24, 2021

Lock was asked how his mindset has changed this year since being in a quarterback competition to which he stated nothing has changed.

“I think being in a quarterback competition and then last year not being in one, your mindset does not change at all,” Lock said. “You come in and  you’re going to compete and do everything you can to be the best quarterback for this team and that’s the mindset that I have right now. It’s going to be fun, I am going to go out there and have this competition and push myself to a whole different level that maybe I wouldn’t have gotten to without this.”

Lock has had two different offensive coordinators in as many seasons and a plethora of different receivers to work with, but this is the first season he’s entering with the same offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur and a deep receiving corps.

“It was great to be able to learn some more … instead of having to start over new like I did before I feel way more comfortable with the stuff that has been going on,” Lock said. “I can feel how much more comfortable I am.”

General manager George Paton brought Bridgewater to the Broncos this offseason with the full intention of a quarterback battle and the former Panthers quarterback says he feels comfortable working with Shurmur again.

“It has helped a lot. There is some carry over from my days in Minnesota, but at the same time a lot has changed, Bridgewater said. “But I see plays that I’m familiar with and it’s been a smooth transition with installs and learning. We have great teachers in the room.”

In 15 starts last season, Bridgewater completed 69.1 percent of his passes (5th-best) for 3,733 yards and 15 touchdowns with 11 interceptions (9th-most).

When asked about competition for the starting job Bridgewater said he is just taking everything one day at a time.

“My mindset is that I am here to play football. Whatever happens, happens,” Bridgewater said. “I am here to help this team and to help players become better.”

Monday’s start of organized team activities was the first time Lock and Bridgewater met in person, and Lock believes he now has the knowledge and experience to utilize Bridgewater’s presence.

“I feel like we are going to be able to talk easily out there,” Lock said. “He’s got a lot of experience and I feel like we can both bounce things off of each other now. I feel like I’ve got enough knowledge now to talk these things out and bounce ideas off him.”

Of course no real separation can made during this time, at least that’s what head coach Vic Fangio said.

Hopefully the quarterback carousel for the Broncos stops turning this season.