Denver Broncos helmet (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos have been dealt a major setback ahead of the 2024 season, with linebacker Drew Sanders likely to miss most of the campaign.

According to ESPN, Sanders suffered a torn Achilles during the team’s offseason program in mid-April and has since undergone surgery, with recovery expected to take six to nine months.

The team will have to wait to see how much he’s improved after selecting him as the 67th overall pick in last year’s draft. Should his recovery go as planned, they will have him back at some point next season.

Sources couldn’t say what day the player got injured, given that head coach Sean Payton said the team would not discuss injuries or specific progress for recovering players this offseason. However, general manager George Paton spoke about the team’s need at outside linebacker a week before the draft and ended up drafting Jonah Elliss in the third round.

“The outside ‘backer group, we have three that are really talented — [Nik] Bonitto, [Baron] Browning and [Jonathon] Cooper,” he said. “We have a young Drew Sanders, if he stays outside. So we like the group, but you’re always looking at those type of positions. They’re hard to find. If someone falls in your lap, you’re going to take them.”

Sean Payton Admitted The Denver Broncos Had A Huge Need

While Payton did not disclose the injury to Sanders, he did speak about how much the Denver Broncos needed Elliss.

“He was a target,” the coach said. “We felt like we had to get past the Falcons. His brother is now in Atlanta, [former Saints assistant general manager] Terry Fontenot is now in Atlanta. We sat there for however long, and fortunately we were able to draft him … He’s an edge player that plays with energy, effort, all those things you look for — really good football makeup, good character.’”

Sanders played both inside and outside linebacker in 2023, starting in four of his 17 appearances and playing 253 defensive snaps.

He made 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery in his rookie season.