Broncos HC Sean Payton Delivers Key Update About Versatile Prospect

The Denver Broncos have ridden high this offseason, thanks to a strong offseason in free agency and the 2025 draft, but training camp took a dour turn on Friday when linebacker and former third-round draft pick Drew Sanders was carted off the field.

Sanders, the No. 67 overall pick in 2023, went down with an injury in what Denver Sports’ Andrew Mason called the “big story” of the day in a post on X on July 26.

Mason said the “air” came out of the day’s practice session with Sanders’ injury.

“Injuries always have a way of striking the position where you’re the most vulnerable, don’t they …,” Mason posted on X on July 26. “Two starters coming off significant injuries at ILB and now Drew Sanders, a reserve for whom the Broncos had high hopes, carted off at today’s #BroncosCamp practice.”

Sanders appeared in all 17 regular-season games in 2023, but he tore his Achilles during the Broncos’ offseason program in April 2024. He appeared in four games and even tried to transition to the edge last year.

Sanders is back in the middle this year, but this latest setback threatens to further stall his development.

The Broncos can be happy that Sanders appears to have avoided the worst possible outcome.

Broncos HC Sean Payton Offers Encouraging Update About Drew Sanders’ Injury

The Denver Post’s Luca Evans called Sanders one of the “more interesting” players to watch and that his yet-to-be-defined role is a “total X-factor.” The 6-foot-5 Sanders has recorded 32 total tackles, 2 quarterback hits, 1.0 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 fumble recovery in his career.

Mason also pointed to the sigh of relief offered by Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who said there were few details to provide.

Payton did say Sanders would undergo further testing.

“We don’t have any information yet,” Payton told reporters after practice on July 26. “We’ll give it to you once we [have it]. It’s not his Achilles. But I want to wait, see once the doctors do the MRI.”

That Sanders appeared to have avoided a repeat of last offseason is good news, but the Broncos are hardly out of the woods.

Broncos LB Depth Facing Early Test

Sanders’ health is significant beyond what he can provide, with the Broncos working to manage veteran free agent signing Dre Greenlaw’s reps. The former San Francisco 49ers star suffered a quad strain that sidelined him during the offseason program.

Greenlaw has a significant injury history, suffering a torn Achilles, just as Sanders has. Greenlaw tore his with the Super Bowl with the 49ers in 2023.

Veteran Alex Singleton is expected to start alongside Greenlaw.

Singleton has been durable in his career, but he broke his arm in Week 3 and missed the rest of the 2024 season. Special teamer Justin Strnad is back, and he expects to compete for a starting spot, too.

The Broncos have several young options, including 2024 undrafted free agent Levelle Bailey and 2025 UDFA JB Brown.

Sanders and the Broncos are off on July 27 before returning to practice with pads on July 28.