Former Razorbacks Linebacker Gets Positive Update on Leg Injury

Drew Sanders’ Injury Update and Broncos’ Defensive Outlook

Denver — Former Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Drew Sanders has received some positive news following a recent injury that initially raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming season. Unlike last year’s season-ending Achilles tendon rupture, which kept him out of the final 13 games, Sanders is now dealing with a ligament injury in his foot that requires surgery.

According to Broncos coach Sean Payton, the diagnosis is significantly better than what was initially feared. “The news for us was good news in that it’s a ligament in his foot, and it’s not a tendon,” Payton told reporters on July 28. “What does that mean? It’s going to certainly be north of four to six weeks, but the tendon was what we were concerned about.”

Payton emphasized that a ligament repair is typically less severe than a tendon injury, which means Sanders should have a more straightforward recovery process. “I’m not going to try to spell it, but the ligament repair is a much easier one than that of a tendon. So we were all pretty happy with that.” While the exact timeline for his return is still being determined, the Broncos are optimistic that Sanders will be back on the field sooner rather than later.

This injury occurred during a tough week for former Razorbacks players. Just hours before Sanders’ injury, fellow Arkansas alum Treylon Burks, a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, broke his collarbone during training camp. The events highlight the challenges that athletes face as they prepare for the new season.

Sanders’ previous injury, a ruptured Achilles tendon during his second season in the league, forced him to miss significant time. However, Payton confirmed that he did not re-aggravate his Achilles during this latest incident, which is a relief for the Broncos’ defense. With the team currently short on healthy linebackers, the possibility of Sanders returning sooner rather than later could be crucial for the defense's depth.

Now entering his third season in the NFL, Sanders has shown promise as a pass rush specialist. He played one season at Arkansas as an All-American performer before being drafted in the third round. In his rookie season, he appeared in all 17 games, recording 24 tackles and one tackle for loss. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 233 pounds, Sanders has been praised by Payton for his potential in multiple defensive packages.

“Right now, inside, we are talking about Drew, and last year we went into the offseason with the EDGE idea,” Payton said earlier this summer. “Then we have progressed enough to where he is going to work inside. It’s how the season finished, too. We are going to keep him right there.”

Broncos general manager George Paton also expressed confidence in Sanders’ potential as a starter. “We think Sanders can be a starter in this league at linebacker,” Paton said. “Now let’s see how it goes. We’re going to keep adding good players. Competition, we just want competition at all of the positions. We’re not anointing anyone starters, but we just want to keep bringing in competition and we’ll get good results.”

In addition to Sanders, the Broncos have made moves to bolster their linebacker corps. They signed former Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency after he missed most of the 2024 regular season due to a quadricep injury. With several starters and expected contributors sidelined during training camp, the team is giving backups more opportunities to prove themselves.

“I think it helps [our back-ups] as it pertains to [injuries],” Payton said during training camp. “Remember in that offseason, it’s all geared toward this. Some of those guys got more reps because of [Greenlaw and Alex Singleton recovering]. Now it’s good to have those two guys back. When you’re able to shuffle guys through with all the groups, I think it helps.”