The Denver Broncos are navigating some attrition at a critical spot early in training camp, with injuries to several linebackers, including projected starters, incumbent Alex Singleton and 2025 free agent signing Dre Greenlaw. They may have avoided disaster.
Greenlaw pulled up during a play in practice. Broncos head coach Sean Payton gave an update on the newcomer after the session.
The veteran would walk off to the locker room after the play.
“I think he’s fine,” Payton told reporters about Greenlaw on July 31. “In the one-on-one period, he felt it got tight. Different area, and so we’ll know more. We’ll go ahead and have all the precautionary work done, but I think he’ll be all right.”
Sean Payton said Dre Greenlaw aggravated something other than the quad injury he had earlier this year. Important to note: Payton didn’t seem worried. They will do all the necessary testing but he believes Greenlaw will be fine. https://t.co/11PkgnMWPv pic.twitter.com/Lhp9EbT5oQ
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) July 31, 2025
“Dre Greenlaw was in a one-on-one cover drill going up against J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins beat him deep, Greenlaw turned on the burners, caught up to J.K. then as the ball was thrown Greenlaw pulled up,” DNVR Broncos’ Zac Stevens posted on X on July 31.
“He went to the locker room after.”
The “different area” refers to a quad injury Greenlaw suffered in the spring that kept him out of much of the Broncos’ offseason program.
Broncos LBs Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton Avoid Disaster
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Greenlaw has an extensive injury history, including a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. He is expected to help the Broncos shore up one of the few weak spots on their defense, coverage at the LB spot.
Singleton missed all but three games in 2024, and his return should also help the Broncos’ coverage at the second level of the defense.
A broken thumb has since sidelined Singleton, who attended Thursday’s practice with a cast.
Payton lamented outside opinions that the Broncos were somehow “plagued” by injuries, an issue he has proudly touted overcoming along with vice president of player health & performance Beau Lowery.
New Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga, Greenlaw’s former 49ers teammate, and ex-Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram both have extensive injury histories.
Payton is not concerned and does not see a correlation with the linebacker injuries.
“I say this respectfully: I read somewhere where it was like, ‘Injury plagued,’” Payton told reporters on July 31. “Alex is back here in six days. So, I think, obviously, other guys step up and get those reps. But, knock on wood, fortunately, we’ve been good here during this camp.”
Without Singleton, and if Greenlaw misses any practice time, the Broncos must turn to younger, less proven options.
Broncos Special Teamer Leads Reserve LB Corps
GettyJustin Strnad #40 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the New York Jets.
Greenlaw’s outlook is optimistic, and Singleton should return even after undergoing surgery. But the Broncos still lost 2023 third-round pick Drew Sanders for roughly a month with a foot injury that saw him carted off the field in practice.
Veteran Justin Strnad leads the healthy options on the roster in terms of experience. Second-year former undrafted free agent Levelle Bailey has made waves in training camp, though.
The Broncos also have 2025 UDFA JB Brown in the fold.
However, with $49.5 million invested in Greenlaw (three years, $31.5 million) and Singleton (three years, $18 million), the Broncos are counting on them to lead the way for the second level of one of the league’s best defensive units.
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