The Denver Broncos finally pulled the plug on the Drew Sanders experiment, officially waiving the linebacker from their injured reserve on Tuesday. It’s a move that’s been bubbling for a while, wrapping up a pretty frustrating chapter for the team and for Sanders himself.
The Sanders Experiment Is Over
Let’s be real, it’s a tough break for a guy taken in the third round back in 2023. You expect a lot from that kind of investment, right? But for Sanders, it just never clicked after his rookie season. The dude could not string together a healthy run. We’re talking about someone who was injured and unavailable for much of the last three seasons. That’s a huge chunk of time to be on the sidelines, not contributing. So, the team is moving on, and honestly, you can’t really blame them. Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses and make way for guys who can actually stay on the field. It’s a clean break, but it leaves you wondering what could have been.
Mahomes, Chiefs Loom Large for Week 1
With Sanders now officially gone, all eyes are locked on Week 1. And oh boy, what a matchup it is! The Broncos are rolling into Monday Night Football as 2.5-point road underdogs against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to FanDuel. The over/under is set at 43.5, telling you this could be a tight one. Coach Payton, despite all the early season uncertainty, is absolutely expecting Patrick Mahomes to be 100 percent, moving well, and ready to dominate both inside and outside the pocket. That’s the kind of threat that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Adding to the drama, the Chiefs’ starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, is reportedly unlikely to play in Week 1 due to a back injury that’s been lingering for weeks. That means undrafted rookie Khalil Benson is poised to step in and start. That’s a huge potential vulnerability that the Broncos’ pass rush absolutely has to exploit if they want a chance to upset the Chiefs on their home turf.
But Can That Defense Keep Up?
So, what kind of defense are the Broncos bringing to Kansas City? The 2025 Broncos defense, for all its struggles, actually led the entire NFL with 30 sacks on third down, which was a massive 44.1% of their total sacks that season. They were also second in the league with 20 sacks on first down. Sacks on second down were just average with 12. That’s a D that knows how to get after the quarterback when it matters most, especially on critical downs. Against a scrambling threat like Mahomes, getting those timely pressures is going to be absolutely vital. Will their defensive front be able to get to Benson and disrupt Mahomes enough to keep this game close?
Week 1 kicks off tomorrow, and with Sanders’ departure and all these matchups playing out, this Monday Night Football game is set to be a real test right out of the gate. Can the Broncos shock everyone on the road, or will Mahomes remind them why he’s king of the AFC West? Get ready, because it’s going to be a battle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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