Drew Sanders Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Broncos vs Commanders game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Aug 27, 2025
Placed on IR, designated to return
Sanders (foot) was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official website reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders underwent a surgery on his foot in early August after suffering a torn ligament July 26, and he will now be forced to miss at least four games to open the season. In his absence, Karene Reid and Justin Strnad stand to garner some added reps at inside linebacker.
Aug 3, 2025
Undergoes successful surgery
Sanders (foot) underwent successful foot surgery earlier this week, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders suffered a torn ligament in his foot July 26, and he's now expected to be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks while recovering from surgery. Once healthy, the 23-year-old is expected to compete for snaps behind Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw at inside linebacker.
Jul 28, 2025
Has torn ligament in foot
Sanders has a torn ligament in his foot instead of a torn tendon, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.
ANALYSIS
The inside linebacker suffered the injury during Saturday's practice and had to be carted off. It was initially feared to be a torn tendon, which, as Broncos coach Sean Payton explained Monday, would have been more serious, per Evans. The 2023 third-round pick, who missed most of last season with a torn Achilles and projects as a backup to Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw, could still be out for 4-8 weeks, according to Payton.
Jul 27, 2025
Set for extended absence
Sanders (foot) is not expected to return before the beginning of the regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders suffered a tendon injury in his foot at practice Saturday, which was determined to be significant after an MRI. The linebacker will undergo additional imaging in the near future to determine his next steps.
Jul 26, 2025
Picks up injury
Sanders left Saturday's practice with an undisclosed injury, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders initially went to the training camp before heading to the locker room on the cart. The 2023 third-round pick suffered a torn Achilles in May of last year, so he played just four games and 17 defensive snaps. Sanders will compete for a reserve role in training camp behind Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton if he can shake off this injury.
Nov 26, 2024
Comes off PUP list
The Broncos activated Sanders (Achilles) from the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders was designated to return from the PUP list Nov. 6, and he has been a full practice participant over the past two weeks. His activation Tuesday indicates that the second-year linebacker has fully recovered from his Achilles surgery that he underwent in May. Sanders is on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Week 13 against the Browns on Monday, Dec. 2.
Nov 22, 2024
Not ready to come off PUP list
Sanders (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 12 matchup against Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Sanders underwent Achilles surgery in May and has been on the PUP list all season. He was designated to return Nov. 6 and and was a full participant in every practice this week, but Denver isn't ready to send him into game action. Sanders will need to activated on or before Nov. 27 in order to be able to play this season.
Nov 15, 2024
Will remain on PUP list
Sanders (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Despite being a full practice participant all week, Sanders will remain on the reserve/PUP list. Given his progress, Sanders could very well make his 2024 regular-season debut in Week 12 against the Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Nov 8, 2024
Won't return for Week 10
Sanders (Achilles) was limited in practice Friday, but he has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Kansas City.
ANALYSIS
Sanders opened the regular season on the Broncos' reserve/PUP list while working his way back from an Achilles procedure in May, but he has been designated to return from IR after his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, per Aric DiLalla of the team's official site. Sanders was able to practice in a limited capacity all week, and while he won't play Sunday, he appears to be close to making his 2024 regular-season debut. Sanders played in all 17 regular-season games during his rookie campaign in 2023 and finished with 24 tackles (13 solo) and one fumble recovery.
Aug 28, 2024
Opens season on PUP list
Sanders (Achilles) was placed on the reserve/PUP list by the Broncos on Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders has been working his way back from Achilles surgery that he underwent in May and he's not likely to play until late November at earliest. The linebacker could very well sit out the entire year, but the team's decision to avoid placing him on injured reserve suggests there's still hope for Sanders in 2024.
Jul 21, 2024
Goes to PUP list
Sanders (Achilles) was placed on the active/PUP list Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders is still recovering from the Achilles surgery he underwent in late May, so the injury designation comes as no surprise. The linebacker faces an uphill battle to be available to play at all in 2024, though head coach Sean Payton has expressed his optimism in the past.
May 23, 2024
Hopeful for return in 2024
Sanders (Achilles) underwent surgery and head coach Sean Payton expects him back in 2024, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Sanders suffered a torn Achilles at Monday's OTA session with the Broncos, but Payton said Thursday that the linebacker sustained the injury on "an early enough timeline that we'll bring him back," according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Sanders will likely need approximately six months, if not longer, to recover, putting his status for the 2024 campaign up in the air. Though his head coach's words do instill some confidence that he'll make it back for a portion of his sophomore campaign in the NFL.
May 20, 2024
Suffers serious injury
Sanders suffered a torn Achilles Monday, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The second-year linebacker played in all 17 games as a rookie but only started four, making 24 tackles. Sanders was likely to play a role in Denver's inside linebacker rotation with projected starters Alex Singleton and Cody Barton. Now, the 2023 third-round pick will miss most or all of the 2024 campaign.
Sep 30, 2023
Set to start
Sanders is expected to start at inside linebacker alongside Alex Singleton, Troy Renck of Denver7.com reports.
ANALYSIS
With Josey Jewell (groin) sidelined, Sanders is the next-man-up for Denver. The rookie only played three defensive snaps in the Broncos' first two games before logging 44 (62 percent) in last week's 70-20 loss in Miami.
Apr 28, 2023
Lands in Denver
The Broncos selected Sanders in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 67th overall.
ANALYSIS
This class didn't boast much top-end talent at off-ball linebacker, but Sanders was easily one of the best of this bunch. A former five-star recruit at Alabama, Sanders transferred to Arkansas in 2022 and flourished. He racked up 103 tackles and 9.5 sacks to earn All-American honors. Sanders' exact role is uncertain in Denver, but Sanders has the tools to either flow and stop the run or pin his ears back and get after the passer. He ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at 236 pounds at the Arkansas Pro Day.
Apr 28, 2023
Lands in Denver
The Broncos selected Sanders in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 67th overall.
ANALYSIS
This class didn't boast much top-end talent at off-ball linebacker, but Sanders was easily one of the best of this bunch. A former five-star recruit at Alabama, Sanders transferred to Arkansas in 2022 and flourished. He racked up 103 tackles and 9.5 sacks to earn All-American honors. Sanders' exact role is uncertain in Denver, but Sanders has the tools to either flow and stop the run or pin his ears back and get after the passer. He ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at 236 pounds at the Arkansas Pro Day.
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