Free-agent quarterback Blake Bortles starts testing process to join Broncos, source says

Preparing for life without injured quarterback Drew Lock, the Broncos will be signing free agent Blake Bortles later this week, according to a league source.

Bortles was at the Broncos’ facility early Tuesday for COVID-19 testing. He must pass a second test to enter the building to meet with the coaching and training staffs and officially sign his one-year contract. Even if Bortles is eligible to practice Friday, it is unlikely the Broncos would thrust him into the No. 2 role behind Jeff Driskel Sunday against Tampa Bay. They would promote Brett Rypien from the practice squad.

Lock injured his right shoulder during the Broncos’ second offensive series Sunday at Pittsburgh and coach Vic Fangio said he will be out 3 to 5 weeks.

Bortles, 28, has 76 regular season/playoff starts (26-50 record), all for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-18.

The third overall pick in 2013 from Central Florida, Bortles has regular-season totals of 103 touchdowns, 75 interceptions and 17,649 passing yards.

The Broncos obviously wanted to add a veteran behind Driskel in case of injury instead of going straight to Rypien. Driskel will be making his eighth career start.

Bortles threw 35 touchdowns (Jaguars single-season record) and 18 interceptions (tied for the NFL lead) in 2015.

The 2017 season was Bortles’ best from a team perspective — the Jaguars went 10-6 (he had 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions) and beat Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the playoffs before squandering a 10-point fourth-quarter lead at New England in the AFC title game. In three playoff games, Bortles had 594 yards passing and three touchdowns.

In February 2018, the Jaguars signed Bortles to a three-year, $54 million contract extension ($26.5 million guaranteed). But the ’18 season was a disappointment and Bortles at one point was benched before finishing the season as the starter.

Released by the Jaguars to make way for Nick Foles in March 2019, Bortles was Jared Goff’s backup last year with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Broncos have two open roster spots after putting receiver Courtland Sutton (knee, out for the year) and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones (knee, out at least three weeks) on injured reserve Monday.