Broncos wanted coach to play QB amid COVID19 outbreak, but NFL said no

Nov 30

The Denver Broncos tried something unusual to handle an unusual situation because of COVID 19.

With their four quarterbacks benched due to Covid restrictions, the Broncos tried to activate offensive quality-control coach Rob Calabrese to the active roster to play quarterback in their home game against the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday.

Denver felt that Calabrese had the strongest command of its offense and he could run the system better than anybody else on the team, sources told ESPN.

However, the NFL said no. It is thought that the league believed if they allowed the move then teams would start stashing players on their coaching staffs for future use.

A source who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity reportedly said the four Denver quarterbacks were put on the Covid/restricted list when one tested positive for the virus and because the others had been in close contact with him.

The NFL threatened at the start of the season that teams with serious COVID infringements could be asked to forfeit.

Prior to the game, Broncos players had complained about the NFL’s move against their teams’ quarterbacks on Twitter.

In the end, Denver tapped Kendall Hinton, a practice squad wide receiver who had played quarterback in college, as its starter for the game.

Unfortunately, things did not go well for the Broncos and they lost the game to the Saints, 31-3.

Introducing …

Today's contagious disease practice squad elevation — WR Kendall Hinton. pic.twitter.com/Gv1gdCNTtc

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 29, 2020

More on Rob Calabrese, while we're at it.

A legend in Long Island (NY) HS football circles. Was star QB at East Islip, went to UCF where he started at QB as a freshman and had solid career. Had NFL allowed him to start today, it'd be a wonderful story…and a Disney movie.

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) November 29, 2020