The Broncos’ wait for Dre Greenlaw to make his debut appears to be at an end.
Denver moved the free-agent pickup from injured reserve to the 53-player roster on Saturday afternoon, a move that was expected when the team released No. 3 quarterback Sam Ehlinger on Friday.
Greenlaw saw limited practice work Wednesday and Thursday before advancing to a full workload Friday. This week’s practice work was his first since Sept. 12, when he saw limited action two days before the Broncos’ loss at Indianapolis.
He officially landed on injured reserve on Sept. 20, as the Broncos decided to give him time to work his way back.
The offseason free-agent signee hasn’t played a game-time snap this season. He’s dealt with quadriceps issues since straining the muscle during an April workout.
Greenlaw was limited to mental repetitions and meetings during OTAs and minicamp. He made his on-field debut early in training camp but aggravated the quadriceps injury July 31 while covering J.K. Dobbins in a one-on-one drill.
He returned to practice two weeks later and appeared to be making progress, but after practicing all the way through Labor Day, he did not take part in the three sessions on Sept. 3, 4 and 5 leading into the Week 1 game against Tennessee.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph indicated that if Greenlaw plays Sunday against the New York Giants, it will be in a “part-time” role.
“We’ll see. We’re not sure that’s going to happen this weekend or next, but he’s in good spirits, he’s worked hard, he’s in the right mindset,” Joseph said Thursday.
But even a bit of Greenlaw will help a Broncos defense that has dominated against struggling offenses, but still has a pair of subpar performances from September on its ledger.
BRONCOS BRING EHLINGER BACK TO PRACTICE SQUAD
The team signed Ehlinger back to its practice squad on Saturday, but opted not to elevate him for Sunday’s game so the Broncos will ride into the game with just two quarterbacks at their disposal.
This will be the second time in the last three games that the Broncos have not had any practice-squad elevations. They elevated at least one player in each game last year.
Denver released two players from its practice squad: defensive back A.J. Woods and wide receiver Thayer Thomas (with an injury settlement).
BRONCOS PRACTICE-SQUAD ELEVATIONS:
2025:
Week 1: LB Levelle Bailey, FB Adam Prentice
Week 2: FB Adam Prentice, LB Garret Wallow
Week 3: FB Adam Prentice, LB Garret Wallow
Week 4: LB Garret Wallow
Week 5: None
Week 6: OL Calvin Throckmorton
2024:
Week 1: FB Michael Burton, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Week 2: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (2)
Week 3: RB Tyler Badie (2), DB Tanner McCalister
Week 4: LB Levelle Bailey, DB Tanner McCalister (2)
Week 5: LB Levelle Bailey (2)
Week 6: OT Cam Fleming, IOL Calvin Throckmorton
Week 7: ILB Kwon Alexander, IOL Calvin Throckmorton (2)
Week 8: ILB Kwon Alexander (2), IOL Calvin Throckmorton (3)
Week 9: ILB Kwon Alexander (3), FB Michael Burton (2)
Week 10: FB Michael Burton (3), ILB Zach Cunningham (1)
Week 11: ILB Zach Cunningham (2), S Keidron Smith (1)
Week 12: ILB Zach Cunningham (3), OL Nick Gargiulo (1)
Week 13: OL Nick Gargiulo (2)
Week 15: OL Nick Gargiulo (3), CB Reese Taylor (1)
Week 16: DL Matt Henningsen (1), RB Blake Watson (1)
Week 17: DL Matt Henningsen (2), WR David Sills (1)
Week 18: DL Matt Henningsen (3)
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