Mile High Huddle

Broncos OLB Drew Sanders Nearing Return from PUP List

Sanders practiced for the first time since tearing his Achilles in April.

Zack Kelberman

Oct 1, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) makes a catch against Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (41) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Oct 1, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) makes a catch against Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (41) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images / Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
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Potentially nearing his 2024 debut, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Drew Sanders participated in practice for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in April, moving around "well" inside the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

The Broncos will have 21 days to activate Sanders to the 53-man roster or leave him on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the remainder of the season.

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A 2023 third-round pick, Sanders appeared in all 17 games for the Broncos as a rookie, compiling 13 solo tackles and a fumble recovery across 555 total snaps (297 on special teams) while shuttling between the EDGE and off-ball positions.

The 6-foot-5, 233-pound defender suffered an Achilles injury during the early portion of the offseason workout program. The team had expected him to return later in the year.

"Fortunately, it was an early enough timeline we’ll bring him back," head coach Sean Payton told reporters in May. "I don’t want to say October, but the good news is the surgery was done, it was clean. There wasn’t anything complex about the injury, and it was just something unusual.”

The likely re-addition of Sanders to the active roster was part of the calculus that led Denver to trading former starting OLB Baron Browning, who was sent to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round selection.

Sanders would presumably ease back in as a reserve rusher behind Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto, rotating with Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman.

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Zack Kelberman
ZACK KELBERMAN

Zack Kelberman is the Senior Editor for Mile High Huddle. He has covered the NFL for more than a decade and the Denver Broncos since 2016. He's also the co-host of the wildly popular Broncos show the Mile High Huddle Podcast.

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