Dre Greenlaw is headed to injured reserve

LOS ANGELES — Dre Greenlaw won’t make his debut for the Broncos until at least mid-October.

The Broncos chose to place the free-agent pickup on injured reserve after waiting the first three weeks while he went through rehab work to try and overcome issues with his quadriceps muscle that have waylaid him throughout the spring and summer. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news Saturday afternoon.

Greenlaw had been ruled out for Sunday’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers after missing the entire week of practice — the third-consecutive game he’s missed to open the season. He has yet to play a down in any game this season — including preseason.

The free-agent pickup has participated in just one practice during the regular season, working on a limited basis Sept. 12, two days before the Broncos’ loss at Indianapolis. But when the team returned to the practice field five days later, Greenlaw was back on the side field, held out of practice.

Greenlaw will miss at least the next four games and is not eligible to return to action until the Broncos face the New York Giants in Week 7. This will mean that he will have missed 21 of the first 23 games since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII.

GREENLAW HAS BEEN DEALING WITH QUADRICEPS ISSUES SINCE APRIL

Greenlaw suffered a quadriceps strain in April, but at the time the injury was not considered serious enough to affect his regular-season availability. He did not practice during OTAs and minicamp, but took part in walk-through sessions and meetings during the offseason.

He participated early in training camp, but suffered a setback on July 31 when he re-injured his quad while covering J.K. Dobbins during a one-on-one drill. He remained sidelined through much of the rest of camp and did not return to team-period work until the final week of the preseason.

Greenlaw was working his way back in the final two weeks of preseason and took part in the Broncos’ “bonus” Labor Day practice. But two days later, he did not practice, and since then has only participated in the lone Sept. 12 session.

Now, his absence will be extended.

One of four free-agent signees from this offseason with injury concerns in recent years, Greenlaw is joined on the sideline by tight end Evan Engram, who will be inactive Sunday due to a back injury. Engram has played in the first two games, but did not practice this week.

Greenlaw joins fellow inside linebacker Drew Sanders on injured reserve. Sanders underwent surgery to repair a foot injury he suffered on the second day of training camp.

With Greenlaw and Sanders both on injured reserve, the Broncos will elevate a practice-squad linebacker for the second-consecutive week, opting for Garett Wallow.

Fullback Adam Prentice also received an elevation; he hit the maximum three elevations allowed in a season; if the Broncos want him to play in future games this year, they will have to add him to the 53-player roster.

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

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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