Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton quickly shut down current and future questions about player injuries when asked about linebacker Dre Greenlaw, which in turn drew even further attention to the veteran’s status ahead of the regular-season opener.
Greenlaw missed practice on Wednesday, and when asked, Payton said he appreciated the question but did not answer it.
According to Payton, divulging his sentiments on player injuries serves little purpose.
Greenlaw’s absence from Broncos practice so far raises eyebrows about his availability for Week 1. They will take on the Tennessee Titans. He was already in line to be on limited snaps, given how much time he has missed.
Broncos LB Dre Greenlaw’s Practice Absence Draws Attention
GettyFormer San Francisco 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw #57 reacts on the field during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LVIII.
“At this point forward, I’m not going to talk one thing about player injuries. We’ll report what we’re required to report, but you’ll never hear me talk about how I feel it’s going or any of that,” Payton told reporters on September 3. “There’s no advantage for me to discuss it.”
The Broncos signed Greenlaw to a three-year, $31.5 million contract in free agency this offseason, and his agent, J.R. Carroll, praised the team via The Denver Post’s Luca Evans for their handling of the situation and cited their track record with player injuries.
Their investment underscores the significance of his potential absence.
“Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw sat out practice Wednesday due to his ongoing quad issue,” The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson wrote on September 3. “Greenlaw suffered a quad injury in practice July 31 and did not play in any of Denver’s three preseason games. He only did work Wednesday at Broncos Park on a side field.
“With the Broncos opening the regular season Sunday against Tennessee, they were required to put out their first injury report of 2025. Greenlaw was designated a non-participant with the quad injury.”
Greenlaw and tight end Nate Adkins were the only Broncos not to participate on Wednesday.
Greenlaw has a history of leg injuries. Most notably, he tore his Achilles tendon during the Super Bowl while with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Greenlaw’s latest issue is at least a minor concern for the Broncos as the opener approaches.
Hall of Famer Praises Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga
GettyFormer San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga during Super Bowl Week.
The Broncos will miss Greenlaw’s impact for as long as he is not with them on the field. He and fellow former 49er, safety Talanoa Hufanga, are expected to add teeth to a top-notch defense.
49ers legend Patrick Willis raved about Greenlaw and what he brings to the field when healthy.
Willis raved about Greenlaw’s “energy” in an interview with Games Hub’s Kyle Odegard published on August 28. Willis said “not only did you see it, you felt it” about Greenlaw’s presence, calling him “unique” and expressing confidence he can return to pre-injury form.
“As an athlete, as a player, I’d love to have him,” Willis told Odegard. “He’s going to be missed with the 49ers, and I foresee him going to Denver and doing great things for that defense.”
Willis holds Hufanga in high regard, saying that he is a “big fan” of his game and “as a person.”
“There are certain people you meet that could big-time you, have whatever personality, but Huff, there is something about his energy,” Willis, a Hall of Famer, said. “After I left his presence, I was rooting for him. I’m a fan of him as a person, and when you see his instincts on the field and the way he moves, I’m really excited to see what he’s going to do for that Denver defense.”
That led Willis to offer yet another telling bit of context around the excitement of Greenlaw and Hufanga’s additions. The latter inked a three-year pact with $39 million to leave the Bay Area for The Mile High City.
“If (Hufanga) can bring back that caliber of ball he played with a couple years ago with the 49ers, it’s going to be really exciting to see what him and Dre can do.”
That is a big “if” since both new Broncos, Greenlaw and Hufanga, have battled injuries.
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