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          Brandon Allen wants to make it difficult for Drew Lock to replace him

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          Young: Broncos must see what Lock is made of (0:33)

          Steve Young analyzes Joe Flacco's injury and the Broncos' quarterback situation, suggesting John Elway test rookie Drew Lock. (0:33)

          • Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterNov 14, 2019, 06:00 AM ET
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              Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
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          ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have a decision to make in the coming weeks: Let Brandon Allen simply play out the season at quarterback or try out rookie Drew Lock.

          Allen, who at age 27 got his first NFL start during a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns, will start again Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Lock, the Broncos' second-round pick in April, practiced for the first time Tuesday since Aug. 17 and could probably benefit from an audition at some point this season.

          Asked Wednesday whether his priority was to win games or develop a quarterback with the team sitting at 3-6, first-year coach Vic Fangio hedged.

          "Both, I would say our priority is winning games, but developing players -- not just quarterbacks -- is always a priority, and Brandon is one of those players along with Drew," Fangio said. "And again, Drew hadn't done anything. ... Tuesday was the first time he's been on the practice field since early August, there's a lot of work to be done."

          Allen, who was a sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016 and spent two seasons with the Rams (one of those on the practice squad), has an unexpected opportunity he wants to make the most of after Joe Flacco went to injured reserve because of a herniated disc in his neck earlier this month.

          Allen completed 12 of 20 passes for 193 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his one start. He wants to keep the job, and on Wednesday was quick to say he wants to make pulling him out of the lineup as difficult as possible.

          "Sure, playing well does that," Allen said. "Obviously I want to play well, want to win."

          Lock, without throwing a single pass in a team drill between Aug. 20 and Nov. 12, has the overwhelming public support as the quarterback who wasn't part of an 0-4 start. Fangio has said Allen's quality of play is "part of the equation" that will decide whether Lock plays this season.

          The Broncos have a three-week window to decide if Lock will move from injured reserve to the active roster. Fangio hasn't publicly guaranteed if Lock will be activated, but Lock will get a chance to show what he can do on the scout team as well as a smattering of snaps with the Broncos' offense.

          Fangio said he would give the offense more practice snaps than the defense this week to get the quarterbacks ready.

          Lock is quick to say he wants to finish out the season on the roster and, yes, he wants to play.

          "Any guy that is a competitor is going to want to play today," Lock said. "And so I want to play bad. Again, I've said it before, I trust the coaches, I trust their plan for me. And if their plan is three weeks, it's three weeks, if their plan is two, whatever it is, I'll here and ready for them.

          "The clear goal is to be activated. ... I'm ready for whatever they throw at me, and whatever they think is best for me, and best for this team."