As the Denver Broncos prepare for the 2024 NFL season, they have experienced a setback with one of their 2023 draft picks. According to 9News’ Mike Klis, linebacker Drew Sanders will miss the majority of the 2018 season while rehabbing from a torn Achilles. Klis stated on the twentieth of May, “The injury occurred early in the Broncos’ offseason program – before the NFL Draft in late April — and subsequent surgery was deemed successful.”
Sanders’ age (23) may help him recover sooner rather than later. On May 20, ESPN Senior NFL reporter Jeff Legwold stated that “Sanders has had surgery to repair the torn tendon, and his recovery time is expected to be between six and nine months.”
Sanders could be ready to go by October. To keep him on the roster, the Broncos must place him on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). Sanders will continue to collect his 2024 base pay ($1,010,669) as part of his four-year rookie scale contract worth $5.7 million.
However, the extended absence is a significant blow for a player who may have discovered his identity in the later stages of his rookie season. According to Pro Football Focus, the Broncos utilized Sanders as a middle or weakside linebacker from Weeks 2 to 11 last season. During that time, he received a defense grade of 65 or above only once.
However, when he shifted to outside linebacker in Week 12, he had three games with overall grades of 66.2 (Week 12 versus Cleveland Browns), 69.6 (Week 16 versus New England Patriots), and 77.3 (Week 17 versus Los Angeles Chargers).
