Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders carted off at practice with apparent injury

A key young piece of the Broncos defense may have suffered another tough setback Toward the end of Denver s second full day of training camp Saturday morning third-year linebacker Drew Sanders was seen carted off the field with an apparent injury Two staffers helped him into the locker room as Sanders slung both arms over their shoulders clearly unable to put much weight on his leg The origin of Sanders injury wasn t seen A serious injury would mark another grueling chapter in Sanders tenure with the Broncos and weaken an already injury-laden linebacker room A former standout at Arkansas and a third-round pick by Denver in Sanders played limited snaps as a rookie and then tore his Achilles in April knocking him out for all but four games last season Broncos head coach Sean Payton stated reporters shortly after practice Saturday that Sanders was getting an MRI and the group was waiting on results but that he hadn t suffered an injury to his Achilles Sanders shifted around in an uncertain role in his first two seasons in Denver splitting time both in the box and off the edge his first year Payton has been adamant this offseason that Sanders will shift to inside linebacker and he took heavy reps during offseason programs with both presumptive ILB starters Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw rehabbing from injury We think he s a pressure member so obviously there s procedures where you can pressure that guy from a stack position or to an outside position Payton noted of Sanders during OTAs But yeah he s doing well handling it Related Articles Broncos haven t made decision on stadium or even a preferred site president Damani Leech says Can Broncos P J Locke make triumphant return from spinal fusion Experts expect him to do well Broncos camp statement Pat Bryant young receivers grab attention as competition for roles ramps up Led by more vocal Jonathon Cooper Broncos pass-rush aims to be largest part dominant unit in NFL Broncos RT Mike McGlinchey leaves practice ahead of first open training camp date Any extended absence for Sanders would further test the depth in Denver s inside-linebacker room perhaps the biggest question mark within a stacked defense Greenlaw and Singleton played a combined six games in amid injury and there s little proven experience behind them besides Justin Strnad who filled in for eight starts at ILB last year Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis