The Denver Broncos will be without linebacker Dre Greenlaw again in Week 2, out again with a quad injury for the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
The good news is Greenlaw finally returned to practice on Friday, listed as limited, so the big-time free agent pickup could be close to his Orange and Blue debut.
Greenlaw missed most of the 2024 season with a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. The former San Francisco 49ers defender signed a three-year $35 million deal with Denver this offseason. Throughout his career, Greenlaw has fought through calf, groin, quad and hamstring issues on top of the Achilles, which have caused him to miss about three dozen games since he entered the league as a fifth-round pick in 2019. He also suffered a quad strain during offseason workouts back in the winter, a sign that the injury woes weren’t fully behind him after changing scenery from San Francisco to Denver.
Greenlaw tweaked his leg in training camp when he pulled up defending J.K. Dobbins in pass coverage. He jogged off the field under his own power. His usage has been limited since.
Greenlaw is poised to be an important part of the Broncos’ defense, which many believe could be the best in the NFL in 2025. It is hoped that the veteran fills a role that has long been a struggle for the Broncos at inside linebacker. And already Greenlaw has become more important with a recurring thumb injury to Alex Singleton and other injuries in the linebacker corps.
Greenlaw’s run-stopping ability might be his best trait, and it pushed the 49ers into being one of the stronger teams of the last several years. Greenlaw has recorded 455 tackles, 18 of which were for a loss and 3.5 sacks, with three interceptions and 14 passes defended across 64 career games, all in the Bay.
Greenlaw can also be clutch, something that can be another element for Vance Joseph’s group.
Friday's #DENvsIND injury report:
📰 » https://t.co/gtChm7gmsI pic.twitter.com/sZyqh9cgop
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 12, 2025
Also, a question for the Colts game is another big free agent addition in Evan Engram, who has missed some time in practice this week after getting banged up in Week 1. But it’s fellow tight end Nate Adkins who will miss the game.
The Broncos are road favorites for the game and will play a banged-up Colts defense.