Denver Broncos fourth-year linebacker Drew Sanders finally comes into a season healthy. Sanders has battled injury after injury, including a torn Achilles in 2024, and a season-ending foot injury in 2025.
But coach Sean Payton believes Sanders could just be getting started. “I think, to his credit, he’s in great shape,” Payton said of Sanders in late May. “He’s someone that has that versatility. The one thing when you watch him play, when it’s decisive and it’s really good. I think that he’s moving around, he’s at a good weight. You probably see him more at the edge.”
True to his word, Payton has tested Sanders out early as an edge rusher during organized team activities as well as mandatory minicamp. Payton has been impressed with the results of Sanders’ play.
“He’s doing well out here playing an edge position,” Payton said on Wednesday. “He’s instinctive. He’s at one of those positions [where] it’s hard to evaluate with what we’re doing right now. He can get the alignment, the assignment, all of that. There’s a young player that, knock on wood, we feel like is really talented, and (can) stay healthy.”
Sanders and fellow linebacker Jonah Elliss could get an extended look at pass-rusher, depending on how the legal and league status of veteran Jonathon Cooper plays out in the weeks leading up to training camp. Both players have impressed coaches, which could potentially constitute a major change at the position across from Nik Bonitto.
For now, Payton is focused on Sanders’ health. “This is one of the offseasons (Sanders is) coming into this portion of training camp healthy, so I’m encouraged with that.”
Let’s hope it stays that way.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Drew Sanders ‘doing well’ as an edge defender
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