You thought we forgot about Dre?
There are many reasons the Broncos project to have the NFL’s best defense this season, starting with Pat Surtain, Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen. But the prediction depends heavily on the addition of free agent linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
If this summer has made you nervous about his impact, you are not alone. Broncos Country should be worried. And not for the reasons you might think. He will be available. Of this there is no doubt. But for how long?
When the Broncos signed players the first few years after Super Bowl 50, it was hard to comprehend when they got a bad one. Then in the seasons leading up to Sean Payton’s arrival, it became a miracle if any of them were any good (looking at you Ja’Wuan James and Randy Gregory).
The Broncos can survive if they miss on running back J.K. Dobbins and safety Talanoa Hufanga, but it will be catastrophic to their AFC West title hopes if tight end Evan Engram and Greenlaw don’t pan out. Engram didn’t do much this summer. That was mostly by design as the playbook remains more basic than “Cat in a Hat.” But at least he was out there.
Greenlaw missed three weeks after the quad strain that sidelined him during offseason training activities flared up. He returned to padded practice last week, but still was not a full participant in all team drills.
As Jake Plummer might say to my reaction: What’s the date??!!
Yes, Greenlaw should be ready for the Sept. 7 opener against the Titans.
There is no one reason to think he won’t. That is not the rub.
But there is one problem: Everything that makes Greenlaw who he is works against him in this situation.
He is not a linebacker. He is an Imax experience. Immersive. It is impossible for teammates not to feel his energy, to notice his ferocity. He plays like he is seeking revenge. Think Forest Whitaker in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
“Dre is a special guy. He’s one of the top linebackers in the league when healthy. Guys like him don’t come around very often,” said former Bronco Brian Griese, who served as the 49ers quarterbacks coach for Greenlaw’s final three seasons in San Francisco. “When he’s on the field, he is just different. He is such a good athlete, and it is only eclipsed by how intense he is. He loves to play.”
This is why the Broncos signed him. But they got him for a discounted price because he only appeared in two games last season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered during Super Bowl LVIII.
His chose Denver because the Broncos chose him. Greenlaw grew up in foster care and getting adopted changed his life. He is fiercely loyal.
Again, everything that makes Greenlaw a good player and a good person can be bad for his health in this situation.
He wants to reward those who have faith in him. And can he do that without going full throttle? Can he tap the brakes? Shift the Ferrari into first gear in the school zone?
There is reason for doubt.
Greenlaw, 28, was turning heads even without pads early in camp. Then on July 31, the linebackers lined up against the running backs. It was good on good. Greenlaw, one of the NFL’s top coverage linebackers in 2024, was opposite Dobbins. The pair practically left skid marks when they took off. But it ended with Greenlaw red with anger instead of red lining. He tried to shake it off, but left the workout.
The Broncos have wisely taken a cautious approach since. There are those in the know who insist that Greenlaw could have played against the Arizona Cardinals or logged some snaps against New Orleans, where he suited up but did not enter.
It’s not ideal for Greenlaw and Alex Singleton to begin the season without having played a single down together in a game. But they are veterans. They will figure it out.
The bigger question is whether Greenlaw will agree to a pitch count. If he will listen to his body.
Honestly, it’s not a fair ask. Not for a player like this to mask his identity.
Asked to describe Greenlaw’s style of play early in training camp, coach Sean Payton compared him to Mike Tyson.
“He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s built that way. There’s not a lot of leaky yardage. He’s a knock-back tackler. They stop where he hits them.”
For a fan base growing cautiously optimistic about Super Bowl talk, last Saturday would have provided a reason to believe even more if Greenlaw had played.
Linebackers have historically seen decreased performance when returning from an Achilles injury. So, it would have been nice to see him crack the pads. Show what the Broncos have missed since Danny Trevathan left as a free agent following Super Bowl 50.
The Broncos are not pushing any panic buttons. They weighed the risk vs. the reward when signing Greenlaw, and privately seem comfortable if he misses a few games because of the improvement of Justin Strnad.
But, this is a health story about Greenlaw. With a twist. Too often, we worry about players returning too timid, too careful. It is the exact opposite with Greenlaw. cHe is Evel Knievel. Engine revving, wheeling popping.
And this creates concern. The Broncos need Greenlaw. But they need him to be smart, patient. All things that go against his nature.
For the Broncos to deliver a special season, they need him to work back gradually so that he’s one of the Broncos’ best players in December, and especially January.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.