The Broncos’ pair of veteran inside linebackers is likely to be at least somewhat limited early in the regular season.
Head coach Sean Payton said as much Thursday, noting the reality that Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw are each coming off major injuries over the past year and limitations in training camp.
“We’ve got to be smart, look at pitch counts and be ready to play some young players,” Payton said. “And not just say, hey, Week 1, we’re throwing them out there for 70-plus plays.”
Denver has Justin Strnad and undrafted rookie Karene Reid on the 53-man roster, but also kept three practice squad ILBs in Levelle Bailey, Jordan Turner and Garrett Wallow.
Singleton tore his ACL in late September last year and missed the final 14 regular-season games. He also broke his thumb early in training camp and missed about a week.
Greenlaw only played in two games in 2024 around a torn Achilles tendon and then subsequent calf issues. He injured his quad in April, started training camp feeling good, but has been limited by what Payton’s described as scar tissue in the quad. Greenlaw hasn’t had many live reps and didn’t play in any of Denver’s three preseason games or two joint practices this month.
Mims just a scare. Denver got good news on Marvin Mims Jr., the third-year receiver who left practice Wednesday with training staff because of a groin injury.
“Good news, he’ll be back at practice — we have a bonus practice Monday and he’ll be at work Monday,” Payton said.
Mims didn’t practice Thursday, but Payton said the Broncos felt “fortunate” to avoid any kind of substantial issue with the ascending pass-catcher and All-Pro return man.
Who’s up? Payton wasn’t getting into detail Thursday about the Week 1 game plan for Tennessee, but he did acknowledge that itap “hard” to have four running backs active for game day.
“Historically speaking, in the years I’ve coached, we haven’t been just one back who gets all the downs,” Payton said. “Itap been two backs, and then you may have someone who does third down. But itap hard to get four backs up, but, I mean, look, there’s times where you do it if there’s a vision (for a player) in the kicking game.”
Given the Broncos are sure to use J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, that could mean a decision on a game jersey between Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin. Badie got more preseason game work on special teams than McLaughlin, and Payton’s noted Badie’s ability in pass protection several times, but McLaughlin has more game experience with Payton.
Payton also noted it was “different” to not have a running back on the practice squad but said they wanted to preserve some depth at other positions like inside linebacker and cornerback.
“If (fullback Adam) Prentice needs to take some halfback snaps for the scout team, we’ll manage that,” Payton said. “It was more about, letap make sure that group of 16 are guys we feel strongly about developmentally or we feel strongly about coming in and playing as opposed to just filling the quota at each position.”
