Broncos place Flacco on IR

Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, ending his season after eight starts, head coach Vic Fangio announced Friday.

Flacco was initially expected to miss five-to-six weeks with a herniated disc, which isn't considered career-threatening and may not require surgery.

"At best, it was six weeks where he could do nothing. When I say nothing, absolutely nothing. So he would need probably two weeks to get back. And (it's a) good chance it would be eight of doing nothing and then another week or two to get ready. So you guys can do the math," Fangio said.

Acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, Flacco threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions before landing on the reserve list.

With a base salary north of $20 million in 2020, there is no guarantee Flacco will be back with the Broncos next season. The club will be on the hook for a $13.6-million cap hit if it releases him, according to Over The Cap.

Denver is set to give Brandon Allen his first career start at quarterback in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns, but could turn to second-round pick Drew Lock down the stretch. Lock has spent the first half of the campaign on injured reserve with a thumb injury.

Brett Rypien was promoted from the practice squad.