Payton optimistic about Broncos health for playoffs, including big names

The Denver Broncos may get the reinforcements they've been waiting for, at least Sean Payton dropped a big hint about that

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Jan 9, 2026, 3:06 PM Updated: 3:16 pm

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The Denver Broncos may get the reinforcements they’ve been waiting for.

After the team’s first postseason practice Friday, coach Sean Payton said most of his banged-up roster is trending in the right direction as Denver prepares for the AFC divisional round at Empower Field at Mile High on Jan. 17 or 18.

“Yeah, I think we see most everyone back,” Payton said when asked about linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

Greenlaw was sidelined for the regular-season finale after missing practice that week due to a hamstring injury. The linebacker pulled up in pursuit as he neared the Broncos’ sideline and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest during Week 17’s contest against Kansas City.

Greenlaw also dealt with quadriceps issues earlier this year. He suffered a quad strain during an April workout, then aggravated the injury during the July 31 training-camp practice. He returned to on-field work three weeks later, but was not ready for the start of the regular season and eventually landed on injured reserve.

The big-time free agent signing made his game-action debut Week 7 against the New York Giants, then missed the Week 8 contest against the Dallas Cowboys due to a league suspension after an on-field incident with referee Brad Allen during the celebratory hubbub after Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal.

In eight games this season, Greenlaw has 43 total tackles, one sack, one interception, two passes defensed and two tackles for losses.

The bigger question mark may be running back J.K. Dobbins, who’s been sidelined since suffering a Lisfranc injury against the Raiders on Nov. 10. Originally expected to miss the rest of the season, Dobbins told a fan before the Week 18 win that he could return “sooner” than the Super Bowl, and CBS commentator Jim Nantz reported during the broadcast that Payton said Dobbins could return for the AFC championship game if Denver advances.

“Yeah, no comments on him yet, but (JK) is getting close,” Payton said. “But Dre is getting there.”

The bone Dobbins hurt is in the middle of the foot, where the metatarsal bones meet the rest of the foot. The nasty injury was expected to fully heal in time for the 2026 season; however, he will become an unrestricted free agent before then, as the Broncos signed him to a one-year contract in June.

Dobbins would be a huge addition to the Broncos. The lead running back was fifth in rushing yardage across the NFL at the time of his injury. He had 772 yards through 10 games. Dobbins was initially expected to miss the rest of the season and is currently on injured reserve. He suffered the setback on what appeared to be a hip-drop tackle made on him by Las Vegas defensive lineman Tyree Wilson during the Broncos’ 10-7 win over the Raiders on Nov. 6.

It was another tough break for Dobbins in a career filled with them. He has yet to play all games in a single season and by the end of this campaign will have played in 47 of a possible 101 regular-season contests. The injury bug bit him during his entire stint in Baltimore, where he missed 43 games, and carried over to last year in Los Angeles, where he missed four games — that made him available to the Broncos in the first place.

When healthy, Dobbins has been effective; he boasts a 5.2-yards-per-carry average for his career, including a 5.0-yards-per-rush pace this season. The Broncos have only rushed for 130 yards in a game once since Dobbins’ injury, a mark they hit five times while he was healthy.

Payton’s statement should also make Broncos Country feel good about the health of a bunch of other players Like Brandon Jones, Drew Sanders, Garett Bolles, John Franklin-Myers, Lucas Krull, Luke Wattenberg and P.J. Locke.

Jones won’t be able to return this round because he was placed on Injured Reserve so recently. Sanders hasn’t played this season, but the Broncos have kept the door open for him. Bolles got hurt late in Week 18 but basically said it doesn’t matter what the injury is, he’ll be playing in the postseason no matter what.

Franklin-Myers missed the finale with a hip injury and didn’t practice Friday as his partner was expecting a baby. Krull hasn’t played since September, and there are rumors he could be a go for the AFC Championship Game. Wattenberg was also placed on Injured Reserve too recently to play next weekend. While Locke left Week 18 but is already back on the practice field.

So that’s basically everything, and that would be big for the Broncos to get back when they face a soon-to-be-determined opponent.