ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Drew Sanders made it all the way back from an Achilles injury in the same calendar year.
No small feat.
The Broncos' third-round draft pick out of Arkansas last year, Sanders was activated onto the team's 53-man roster Tuesday after spending the first 12 weeks of the season on its physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Sanders takes the place vacated Monday when the Broncos waived another third-round draft pick, tight end Greg Dulcich, who was selected in 2022. Dulcich was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the New York Giants, who at 2-9 were No. 1 on the 32-team waiver order this week. That means it's possible, if not likely, multiple teams put in a waiver claim on Dulcich, but he went to the team with the highest claim order.
The Broncos also waived veteran backup offensive guard Calvin Throckmorton. He leaves open a roster spot for Josh Reynolds should the Broncos decide to activate the veteran receiver from injured reserve this week. Reynolds has missed the past seven games initially because of a fractured finger, but he was also a victim in a drive-by shooting in the early hours of Oct. 18.
Sanders was initially placed at inside linebacker during his rookie season, but was switched to outside linebacker about midseason. His rookie year was an adjustment. Although he played in all 17 games and was in on 24 tackles, he didn't register a sack.
Sanders was preparing for a major improvement in year two, but soon after the Broncos' offseason conditioning program began in mid-April, he suffered a torn Achilles. Following surgery, Sanders eventually was placed on PUP. He was cleared to start practicing three weeks ago.
The deadline to activate Sanders on the 53-man roster was Wednesday, so his transaction was not a surprise, especially given Dulcich's departure.
