Could the Denver Broncos get back one of their most important defensive additions this week against the Los Angeles Chargers? Greenlaw watch has begun after he improved to being a limited participant in last Friday’s practice.
Denver Broncos looking to cool off Chargers hot start
The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a hot 2-0 start, beating their AFC West division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Las Vegas Raiders to open up the season, and will face their third divisional opponent on Sunday, the Denver Broncos.
After a gut-wrenching loss on Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos are aiming to douse the Chargers’ hot streak to avoid letting them start off 3-0 in AFC West divisional play.
For Denver, they can’t let Sunday’s loss against Indy turn into a second loss against LA.
“Here’s the thing,” Payton said. “So many of them happen in our league because the games are so close. They’re often won in two-minute drills. I think of that coming in the morning. I’ll think of that Tuesday before Wednesday’s team meeting, how to shed one that doesn’t affect another, but I think [QB] Bo [Nix] is correct. It’s a long season, and today’s the day though that we really have to not miss out on the opportunity to correct and not miss out on the opportunity to recognize maybe why. Then later in the week, the refocus on an important division game.”
Part of that focus this week will be trying to avoid having the middle of the field exposed the way the Chargers did to Denver last season on Thursday Night Football and how the Colts did this past Sunday.
The Broncos’ defense surrendered 9.8 yards per play on first down and allowed far too many explosive plays that targeted Denver’s inside linebacker position specifically, leading us to discuss Dre Greenlaw. Could we see him make his debut this week?
After upgrading from a non-participant to a limited participant last Friday, Greenlaw could be ramping things up as the Broncos prepare for today’s practice.
It’s not like he’s an unknown commodity — he has an established track record in this league, and if he returns, he’ll be a difference maker for the Broncos’ defense.
If Greenlaw returns, it’s fair to ask whether or not the Broncos could look at making adjustments to the linebacker rotation after Alex Singleton struggled in Sunday’s game against the Colts, or potentially rotate the group if Greenlaw is on a pitch count to start.