Broncos inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw practiced in a limited capacity again Thursday, the second straight day he’s been given that designation.
The spring free-agent addition has not yet played for the Broncos due to a spring quad injury and a couple of subsequent setbacks. He was placed on injured reserve after Week 2 and is first eligible to return this weekend against the New York Giants.
“If he returns this week, it’s going to be in a part-time role, maybe. We’ll see,” Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday. “Not sure if that’s going to happen this weekend or next. He’s in good spirits, he’s worked hard, he’s in the right mindset. We’ll see how Sunday works out.
“Once he’s out there, you will feel him. Everyone will.”
Joseph said things, “won’t change much schematically,” when Greenlaw does return.
“He’s been a great player for a long time, and that won’t change,” Joseph added. “I’m just looking forward to him getting back on the field and helping us win.”
Joseph made it clear, though, that fellow inside linebacker Justin Strnad has earned continued playing time and will see the field even after Greenlaw returns.
Strnad has played 75% of the team’s defensive snaps so far this season and has already set a career high with 3.5 sacks.
“He’s a good athlete. I mean, he’s a tall, long athlete, man, with great speed and burst,” Joseph said. “I’ve been so proud of him, how he’s played the last couple weeks. And watching him from our first year until now — he’s a player, man. He’s a real NFL starter. And he’s played that way for us, run and pass game.
“He has such great physical tools and traits that he wasn’t using before. Now he’s using them and he has confidence in his game, so it shows.”
Elliss out again. Second-year outside linebacker Jonah Elliss didn’t practice again Thursday due to a shoulder injury.
Elliss, 22, missed last week’s game against the New York Jets and hasn’t practiced at all the past two weeks.
If he is out again this weekend, rookie Que Robinson will likely find himself back in the rotation. Robinson in his NFL debut played 19 defensive snaps and 18 special teams snaps.
OLB Jonathon Cooper (quad) again joined Greenlaw as a limited practice participant Thursday.
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