The Broncos were delivered a bit of a scare when third-year linebacker Drew Sanders was carted off the field at practice yesterday with an apparent lower body injury, per Luca Evans of The Denver Post. After Sanders missed most of his 2024 campaign with an April torn Achilles tendon, there was significant concern for another injury, though head coach Sean Payton relayed that the issue was not his Achilles this time, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. 
In an update today, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the results of an MRI determined that Sanders suffered an injury to a tendon in his foot “that will keep him out (for) an extended period of time.” An exact recovery timeline was not ready, as further testing is still required to determine if he’ll need surgery, but Sanders is not expected to return in time for the season opener, so he’ll be getting a late start to the season for the second year in a row.
A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders split his time as a rookie as both a reserve behind linebackers Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell in the box and a reserve behind Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, and Baron Browning on the edge, following an injury to Randy Gregory. With the loss of Jewell in free agency, Sanders was expected to step in next to Singleton, but his fateful torn Achilles changed the team’s plans.
When Singleton suffered a tear of his own (ACL) only three games into the season, the Broncos relied on Cody Barton and Justin Strnad, who admirably filled in the linebacking roles for a defense that finished the season third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed. Barton priced himself out of Denver, earning a three-year, $21MM deal with the Titans, while Strnad was re-signed on a one-year, $2.7MM contract.
Already returning Sanders, who played in five contests off his return from the Achilles injury last year, the Broncos made an interesting move in signing former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who played in two games last season coming back from an Achilles tear of his own. Greenlaw actually experienced a quadriceps injury in early offseason practices with his new team, but it was minor enough for Denver not to address the position through the draft or further free agency.
Singleton and Greenlaw have both overcome their injuries and have been participants in training camp so far. If the two can stay healthy, they should be leading the linebacking corps when the season opens. It’s unfortunate that Sanders suffered his setback, as he would’ve been in line as the first man off the bench for the position and an excellent option to fill in should either of his teammates experience setbacks of their own. Despite his snap shares on the edge as a rookie, Payton made it known back in February that Sanders would be focusing on his role as an inside linebacker moving forward.
With Sanders’ return date unknown, Strnad now takes on that responsibility behind Singleton and Greenlaw, once again prepared to step into a starting role, if necessary. Behind Strnad, though, a group of undrafted linebackers is composed of Levelle Bailey, who played five defensive snaps as a rookie last year, and rookies Karene Reid, JB Brown, and Johnny Walker Jr.