Denver Broncos Star Linebacker Ruled Out Week 1

The Denver Broncos haven’t made a big signing at linebacker in what seemed to be almost a decade. This offseason, George Paton made a splash by bringing in former All-Pro Linebacker Dre Greenlaw on a three-year deal to solidify the middle of their defense. Greenlaw didn’t play much in 2024 as he was still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Today, Denver ruled out Greenlaw in their season opener against the Tennessee Titans.

Greenlaw’s Quad Injury

It was reported in late April that Greenlaw had suffered a quad injury while working out. Head Coach Sean Payton said Greenlaw was in good spirits and remained on track to be ready by the start of training camp. On August 1, a new injury came on for Greenlaw. Payton confirmed that he was dealing with quad discomfort, but should be ready to go for their first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Unfortunately, Greenlaw was held out of that game, with Denver trying to be cautious with their newly acquired star. He ended up not playing in any preseason games, slowly working his way up in practice, and his Week 1 status wasn’t in doubt. The plan was for Greenlaw to be on a snap count for the first few weeks, getting him ready to go full speed.

The Broncos linebacker was unable to practice all week due to his quad issue still lingering. While the Broncos were still hopeful that he’d be able to practice in some capacity, Greenlaw was unable to get on the field. They officially ruled him OUT today, and his status for Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts is in doubt.

Who Will Play For the Broncos?

The good news for the Broncos is that Alex Singleton is fully healthy after tearing his ACL against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Starting alongside Singleton will most likely be Justin Strnad, who did a good job filling in last year for Denver. I’d also expect Levelle Bailey to be elevated from the practice squad, as he’ll most likely see a good amount of playing time.

Denver survived last year without Singleton and Greenlaw, so there’s no question that guys like Bailey and Strnad can’t hold their own. Not only that, but the Broncos are coming into the season with a much-improved secondary, adding S Talanoa Hufanga and CB Jahdae Barron. Additionally, Denver had the most sacks in the NFL last season, which alleviates pressure off of the linebacking core.

When Will We See Greenlaw?

Payton declined to speak on Greenlaw’s injury, only creating more doubt as to when he’ll make his debut for the Broncos. A stint on the IR doesn’t seem likely as of now, with Greenlaw still working on the side during practice. They’re clearly being as safe as they can be with him, trying to keep him healthy for the important part of the season when they’re making a playoff push.

Ideally, the Broncos would like to have him back in Week 3 when they head to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers, who they had trouble with last year. He’ll continue to rehab his injury, and we should know more about the severity around this time next week. In the meantime, there’s no room for error when it comes to the linebacking core. Alex Singleton has been having a good camp, so his return will be huge for the defense, and guys like Justin Strnad and Levelle Bailey need to step up in place of Greenlaw. Denver’s first two games are relatively easy, facing Rookie QB Cam Ward in Week 1, and then Daniel Jones in Week 2.