The Broncos released quarterback Sam Ehlinger on Friday, clearing a 53-man roster spot that will likely be filled by inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw as soon as Saturday.
The move was official on the NFL’s Friday transaction wire after Ehlinger was out at practice earlier in the afternoon.
Ehlinger is a vested veteran, so he is free to sign anywhere as soon as he wants and is not subject to the waiver wire. Because of his status as a veteran, he will end up making the equivalent of his base salary for the season and won’t lose out on earning if he returns to the Broncos’ practice squad.
Once he re-signs to the practice squad, Ehlinger will be eligible for elevation three times over the remainder of the season.
His spot on the 53-man roster, meanwhile, looks earmarked for Greenlaw.
Denver listed the inside linebacker as questionable on Friday after he practiced as a full participant for the first time this season. Greenlaw is first eligible to return from injured reserve this weekend after spending the past four weeks there trying to get over a quadriceps injury that’s impacted him since April.
Greenlaw moved from limited practice participation on Wednesday and Thursday to full participation on Friday.
“It was positive,” head coach Sean Payton said. “He was able to go and move around. So yeah.”
The Broncos, then, only needed to decide whether Greenlaw needed a ramp-up week after dealing with a quad injury and subsequent setbacks since April or if he’s ready to jump right into what defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said would be a limited role as soon as this weekend.
They appear to have decided the former San Francisco linebacker is ready.
Ehlinger’s 53-man roster spot could theoretically go to an outside signing, but the clear indication is that Denver intends for Greenlaw to play this weekend.
By making the move with Ehlinger Friday, he can sign back to the practice squad Saturday, in time to be elevated for the game Sunday if Denver wants three quarterbacks available. An outside player would not sign with the team Saturday and then be part of a plan for Sunday.
The logical outcome, then, is activating Greenlaw for what would be his Denver debut.
Greenlaw signed a three-year deal back in March that really amounts to a one-year, $11.5 million guarantee.
He established himself with the 49ers as one of the top inside linebackers in football, but he’s only played 34 defensive snaps since tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl in February 2024, nearly 20 months ago.
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