Spokane Native Gets the Nod for Denver

If the name sounds familiar; it should. The nephew of WSU great and Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien is in at quarterback for the Broncos.

Brett Rypien went undrafted last year and has bounced from the Broncos practice squad to the 53-man roster and back since signing with them last season. But with Drew Lock injured, it's Brett's chance to shine.

You would be forgiven for mistaking him for his uncle. Even the Broncos' head coach did. Recruited out of Spokane's Shadle Park High School, Brett had a decorated career at nearby Boise State. He finished three of his four seasons as First-team All-MWC. The lone season he missed the first team he was still Second-team All-MWC. In his senior season, Rypien was the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Rypien came off the bench last week and hit his first eight passes before throwing an interception. He hopes to rebound this week and the Jets pose a great opportunity for him to do so.