The Denver Broncos could be without one of their most significant offseason additions for part of the 2025 season. According to a report from NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered a torn quadriceps while working out, likely sidelining him for an extended period.
It remains unclear whether Greenlaw will require surgery to repair the injury. The Broncos declined to comment on his status when contacted by NBC Sports Bay Area.
Greenlaw returned to action late in the 2024 season after suffering a torn Achilles during Super Bowl LVIII. However, another injury sidelined him again after just two games. He finished the season with nine tackles across 34 defensive snaps, per Sports Reference.
After six seasons with the 49ers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Arkansas, Greenlaw signed with Denver as a free agent.
San Francisco made an aggressive late attempt to retain him, with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan flying to Greenlaw's home in Texas to convince him to stay after learning his plans to sign with the Broncos. According to The Denver Post's Luca Evans, the 49ers even outbid the Broncos' offer, but Greenlaw had already committed to the three-year, $31.5 million contract.
"We weren't done with Dre," Lynch said last month, "but we had to go through the process, and other teams were aggressive in their pursuit of him, and we were kind of forced to be somewhat reactive. And then, when the market was set, we wanted to go have a conversation with our guy, who we have a lot of respect and love for.
"We had a good discussion with him. He made a decision, and we respect that decision. We're grateful to Dre for all the great work he did for us, and we wish him the best."
The Broncos were counting on Greenlaw to become a cornerstone of their defense. Now, they face the reality of beginning the 2025 season without him. Recovery from a quadriceps tear can vary widely depending on the severity and whether surgery is needed.