DENVER — A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that rookie quarterback Drew Lock will get his first start Sunday when the Denver Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn't plan to announce the starters until pre-game introductions, said the Broncos (3-8) didn’t choose their starter earlier so as to give Lock any possible advantage in his NFL debut.

On Friday, coach Vic Fangio would only say that Lock would be activated Saturday and suit up Sunday for the game against the Chargers (4-7).

Lock replaces Brandon Allen, who went 1-2 after Joe Flacco landed on IR with a neck injury at midseason.

Lock spent the first three months on IR after injuring his right thumb in the preseason. He returned to practice Nov. 17 but only began taking the bulk of the snaps with the starters on Wednesday.

Von Miller’s 95-game starting streak was snapped Sunday when he was deactivated with a left knee injury he sustained last week at Buffalo. Miller hadn’t missed a game since Super Bowl 48 on Feb. 2, 2014, two months after he tore his right ACL in a game at Houston.