ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – The Denver Broncos will have to wait to see how much linebacker Drew Sanders had improved since his rookie season in 2023 because the third-round pick a year ago will now miss at least most of the 2024 season.
Sources told Keynote USA on Monday night that Sanders suffered a torn Achilles tendon early in the team’s offseason program in mid-April, as first reported by 9News in Denver. Sanders underwent surgery to repair the torn tendon and his recovery time is expected to be between six and nine months.
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It leaves open the possibility that Sanders, whom the Broncos selected in the third round of the 2023 Draft (67th overall), could return before the end of the season if his recovery goes well. It’s unclear what day Sanders suffered his injury since coach Sean Payton has consistently said he wouldn’t discuss offseason injuries or players’ specific progress in recovery, but seven days before the draft opened on April 25, general manager George Paton was asked about the team’s need at outside linebacker and included Sanders in the defensive mix for the season.
“In the outside backup group, we have three that are really talented: (Nik) Bonitto, (Baron) Browning and (Jonathon) Cooper,” Paton said last month. “We have a young Drew Sanders, if he stays out. We like the group, but you’re always looking for those types of positions. They’re hard to find. If someone falls into your lap, you’ll take them.”
The Broncos, knowing Sanders’ expected recovery time, selected Utah outside linebacker Jonah Elliss in the third round (76th overall) of last month’s draft. After Elliss’ selection, Payton did not reveal Sanders’ injury, but he did describe how much the Broncos believed they needed to draft Elliss.
“He was a target,” Payton said. “… We felt like we had to get over the Falcons. His brother is now in Atlanta, (former Saints assistant general manager) Terry Fontenot is now in Atlanta. We sat there for a long time and luckily we were able to recruit him… It’s an avant-garde player who plays with energy, effort, all those things you look for: very good football structure, good character.”
After the Broncos selected Elliss, Payton also said: “You’re never afraid to draft at the top because of your strength. We’ll figure it out. It’s always a harder position to find in the offseason and free agency, and so “I felt like he definitely checked the pressure player box, and then we’ll review that depth as we get to it.”
Sanders played inside and outside linebacker in the Broncos’ 3-4 lineup last season. He played in all 17 games, started four and played 253 total defensive snaps, or 23% of the defense’s total.
With the departure of inside linebacker Josey Jewell in free agency, both Payton and Paton had said earlier in the offseason that they had not decided which position Sanders would work most of the time during the team’s OTAs, minicamp and training camp. training later this summer. .
Sanders had 24 tackles last season with one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery.
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