(Reuters) – Denver Broncos beginning quarterback Drew Lock apologized on Sunday for not following the NFL’s pointers for masks, a transfer that finally left his group scrambling to fill the place for this week’s sport.

Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles have been all taken off the sector throughout Saturday’s apply and deemed to be a “high-risk” after shut contact with fellow Broncos quarterback Jeff Driskel, who examined optimistic for the coronavirus on Thursday.

Lock mentioned in a press release that all the Broncos group have been taking the COVID-19 pandemic critically however that the quarterbacks didn’t observe protocols after they held a gathering collectively.

“In a managed and socially distanced space, we let our masking slip for a restricted period of time. An sincere mistake, however one I’ll personal,” Lock wrote in a press release.

“I sincerely apologize and I totally perceive why these security precautions are so vital. Doing the fitting factor for a majority of the time isn’t adequate.”

The Broncos elevated rookie receiver Kendall Hinton from the apply squad on Sunday to step in at quarterback.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; enhancing by Ken Ferris)