When the free-agent signing period opened this past March, the Denver Broncos made a quick deal with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. On paper, it was a huge signing for the team, but it was one that always came with some risk.
Greenlaw was off the field for nearly the entire 2024 season after tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl the year before. In Denver, he's added plenty of other injuries.
He suffered a quadriceps injury early on in training camp that held him out for the first portion of the season. Now, a hamstring injury is going to sideline him again as he has been ruled out for the team's game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night.
Greenlaw has played in just eight games this season and has registered 43 tackles, one sack and one interception. It is clear that he brings an energy that the defense needs, but his availability, or lack thereof, is a major concern.
Broncos general manager George Paton took a chance when he signed Greenlaw to a three-year, $35 million deal. So far, that gamble is not really paying off. Though the deal was for three years, the Broncos could get out of it as soon as this offseason, though they would eat about $7 million in dead money. For that, it would be better to just hang onto him at least for one more season.
Broncos will get Justin Strnad back at just the right time
The Broncos did get some good news on the injury front as linebacker Justin Strnad will return to the lineup after missing one game with a foot injury. He will start in place of Greenlaw next to Alex Singleton.
Strnad has been more valuable for the Broncos this season than Greenlaw has been, totaling 50 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.
The Broncos are thin at the inside linebacker position, with Jordan Turner being the only other one on the active roster. Undrafted free agent Karene Reid is still not ready to return from injured reserve and Drew Sanders has missed the entire season to this point.
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There have been a lot of moving parts at the inside linebacker position this season, but you get the feeling that the Broncos are going to need to address it again this offseason, regardless of how the rest of this season goes.
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