American-Canadian quarterback Brett Rypien will start for the Denver Broncos in Week 4, according to NFL Network reporter James Palmer.
Rypien was elevated to Denver’s 53-man active roster in Week 3 after starting QB Drew Lock hurt his shoulder in the team’s Week 2 loss to Pittsburgh. Canadian Chase Claypool caught a touchdown for the Steelers in a 26-21 victory.
Jeff Driskel started in Week 3 for the Broncos against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rypien entered the game in the fourth quarter, completing 8-of-9 passes for 53 yards and one interception in the end zone on his only offensive drive. Denver lost 28-10 to fall to 0-3 on the season. The Broncos play the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
That action marked the first NFL snaps for Rypien in his career. Rypien was the Broncos’ backup signal caller for three games in 2019, but did not take any snaps.
The B.C. Lions had Rypien on their negotiation list knowing about his Canadian lineage and his potential as a national, however he has since been removed. He is eligible for dual-citizenship via jus sanguinis because his father, Tim, was born in Calgary. Uncle Mark quarterbacked Washington to two Super Bowl titles.
Rypien impressed NFL and CFL scouts at the East-West Shrine Game in January 2019. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown, leading the West team to victory at Tropicana Field.
The 24-year-old was signed by Denver as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL draft and earned a practice roster spot after a strong training camp and pre-season, completing 21-of-44 passes (61 percent) for 207 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Rypien started for the Boise State University Broncos since winning the job as a freshman in 2015, throwing for 13,578 yards – tops in Mountain West Conference history – and 90 touchdowns including 30 during his senior season with a 40-13 win-loss record.
Rypien has earned over $1.16 million in his NFL career so far and he’s earning over $35,000 per week on the active roster.
