BREAKING NEWS: Broncos lose promising key player
The Denver Broncos may have already lost a promising linebacker for the entire 2024 season.
The Broncos are aiming to rebuild after their two-season struggle with Russell Wilson. With Wilson now gone, the team selected their future quarterback, Bo Nix, with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. There’s a lot of optimism around the revamped Broncos, but they may already be facing setbacks due to injuries.
While OTAs are beginning across the league, some players have been participating in their teams’ offseason programs since April. One such player for the Broncos was second-year linebacker Drew Sanders. Unfortunately, Sanders received devastating news on Monday night that he will likely miss the entire 2024 season.
“Sources told ESPN on Monday night Sanders suffered a torn Achilles early on in the team’s offseason program in mid-April, as first reported by 9News in Denver. Sanders has had surgery to repair the torn tendon, and his recovery time is expected to be between six and nine months,” reported Jeff Legwold of ESPN.
Broncos dealt big blow way ahead of 2024 campaign
Drew Sanders was participating in the Broncos’ offseason program in April when he tore his Achilles. Although he quickly underwent surgery, recovery from this type of injury takes time. There’s a chance he could recover and return late in the season, but if Denver isn’t in contention, it wouldn’t make sense to rush him back onto the field.
The Broncos selected Sanders in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he had a solid rookie year, gradually becoming more involved in the defense with 24 tackles, 1 tackle for loss (TFL), and 1 fumble recovery (FR). The hope was for Sanders to take on a larger role in the linebacker corps this season, but this injury has put those plans on hold.
With Sanders out, Alex Singleton and Cody Barton are expected to handle the inside linebacker positions, which was likely the plan for the season opener anyway. However, the depth at linebacker looks thin without Sanders, so the Broncos’ front office might consider exploring the free agent market to bolster the position.
Achilles injuries are always challenging, and it’s unfortunate to see Sanders sidelined with this issue in a year where he was poised to make significant strides. While the Broncos should manage in the short term without him, this injury presents a substantial setback in Sanders’ development. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery and return to form when he eventually gets back on the field.