Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are treating their regular-season finale like a playoff game with the AFC West crown at stake. The latest news regarding Dre Greenlaw threatened to undercut it, but the Broncos emerged from their second day of practice with several encouraging developments.
Denver is hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, and Greenlaw was one of several key contributors whose statuses were uncertain to begin the week.
The tone around the Broncos is quite different after Day 2 of on-field work in Week 18.
Broncos See Improvement From Key Duo
GettyPat Bryant #13 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Dallas Cowboys .
After the Broncos listed three players as limited participants on Wednesday, two of them–tight end Nate Adkins and wide receiver Pat Bryant –progressed to full participation on Thursday.
Adkins has missed eight games this season, including the Broncos’ Week 17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs , with a knee injury. Bryant suffered a concussion in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed the win over the Chiefs.
DNVR’s Zac Stevens called it “really good news for the Broncos.”
More than just this week, getting both players healthy for the postseason would be a boon for the Broncos.
Moreover, the Broncos listed left guard Ben Powers as a full participant, along with backup linebacker Karene Reid . Powers returned from a 10-week, 9-game absence due to a torn biceps in Week 15 and continues to trend in the right direction since.
The Broncos are facing a Chargers team that will rest starters when and where possible.
That could play into the Broncos jumping out to an early lead, which would allow them to rest their starters for the playoffs and prevent further injuries.
Dre Greenlaw Timeline Update Critical
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a stop against the Houston Texans .
Adkins and Bryant’s participation in practice is encouraging, but Greenlaw’s continued absence looms large for the Broncos as the postseason draws near. The Broncos, the No. 1 seed in the AFC, would get a bye during the Wild Card Round.
That could give them enough time for their reported plan for Greenlaw to play out.
“Sources told The Denver Post, however, that Greenlaw is expecting to be healthy come playoff time,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans wrote on December 31. “A Week 18 win to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC would help cement Greenlaw’s status for the stretch run, giving the linebacker another week of rehab before a divisional-round matchup.”
Evans reported on X on Thursday that Greenlaw was “doing rehab work” along with center Luke Wattenberg, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Greenlaw is in his first season with the Broncos after signing a three-year, $31.5 million contract in free agency during the 2025 offseason. He has battled injuries, including two separate quad issues, one of which sidelined him during training camp.
Broncos Have ‘Situation to Monitor’ on Defense
GettyJohn Franklin-Myers #98 of the Denver Broncos on the field against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Adkins and Bryant’s steps forward are encouraging. But Evans warned that the third limited participant–defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers –is “something to keep an eye on” for the Broncos after the veteran maintained that designation on the second day of practice.
Franklin-Meyers played 11 defensive snaps in Week 17, per Pro Football Reference , due to the hip injury that sidelined him on Thursday, adding to the intrigue around his status for Week 18.
Franklin-Myers is also in the final year of a two-year, $15 million contract .
The Broncos will need all hands on deck for what they hope is an extended run in the postseason. That could mean resting Franklin-Myers along with Greenlaw and whoever else as much as possible, even with a bye being a strong possibility for the Broncos.
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