November 27th 2024.
As the Denver Broncos gear up for their Monday night game against Cleveland, they are feeling confident despite the weariness that comes with playing 13 weeks in a row without a break. The team's bye week is finally on the horizon, set to arrive on Tuesday, but it's been a long journey since they reported for training camp in late July. This means a grueling 19 weeks of non-stop work for head coach Sean Payton's squad.
The toll of the constant grind is not lost on fourth-year outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who admits that the upcoming Week 14 bye is a much-needed relief. "Going week-to-week with these games and stuff, your body really starts breaking down on you," Cooper shared. "But it's just staying on it and stuff like that. But I'd be lying to you if I said it wasn't tough."
However, there is a silver lining for the Broncos, as second-year linebacker Drew Sanders could make his return to the field on Monday. After being activated from injured reserve, the challenge now is to figure out how to reintegrate him into the defensive game plan. Payton is cautious about pushing Sanders too hard too soon, saying, "We'll see how the week goes...What's the role, what's the vision the first game back? But it's been good to have him out there and he's fully cleared and doing well. So we'll see."
Before his injury in the spring, general manager George Paton had high hopes for Sanders as an outside linebacker. The position has seen strong production from players like Nik Bonitto and Cooper, but Sanders' return could provide an added boost. Cooper himself is excited to see Sanders back in action, praising his speed, explosiveness, and overall talent. "It's good for us and good for our defense as a whole to get a player like that back," Cooper said. "We've just got to get him some reps, get him some plays, get him some game reps where he feels comfortable out there."
But Sanders' absence has left him with a lack of game experience since January, which could be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, his legs will be fresher than most players on the field, but on the other hand, he will have to adjust to the tempo and rhythm of regular-season games. Cooper acknowledges the value of live reps and game experience, saying, "You can't really get those back...So we're going to do everything we can to help him out and make sure he's ready and he will be. He will be for sure. He's a great football player, he picks it up fast and he'll be just fine."
It's clear that Sanders' return is eagerly anticipated by his teammates, who have been impressed by his progress and are excited to see him back in action. For more news and analysis on the Denver Broncos, sign up for the Broncos Insider newsletter.
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