Broncos sign QB Blake Bortles to 1-year contract
The Denver Broncos have signed 28-year-old quarterback Blake Bortles to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday. The one-year deal is worth the NFL’s veteran minimum, according to multiple reports.
Bortles passed COVID-19 testing in time to practice Thursday.
Denver tried to bring Bortles in for a visit last year but he canceled that visit after he had a positive visit with the Los Angeles Rams. He went on to sign a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rams.
Before spending last season as Jared Goff’s backup in L.A., Bortles spent five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bortles was selected by the Jags out of UCF with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bortles never quite lived up to his draft status but he had strong stretches of play in Jacksonville and helped the Jaguars reach the AFC Championship Game in 2017. In his career, Bortles has thrown for 17,649 yards and 103 touchdowns against 75 interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,766 yards and eight more scores on the ground.
Bortles is a candidate to serve as the Broncos’ new No. 2 quarterback behind fill-in starter Jeff Driskel, who is replacing an injured Drew Lock. Brett Rypien, who is currently on the practice squad, is another backup option.
