Looks like Dre Greenlaw can’t catch a break. It’s not even a month since the 49ers traded to the Denver Broncos. He had a pathetic 2024 season with just 2 games to show. The Broncos were aware that this deal had some dents in the form of injuries. But the latest update hit them harder.

NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Jennifer Lee Chan first reported the news. The reporter wrote in her article, “Greenlaw suffered a torn quadriceps while working out, sources said. The injury could force him to miss a substantial portion of the upcoming 2025 NFL season.” However, another reporter gave some relief to the Broncos fans. Benjamin Allbright reported that a source close to Greenlaw says it’s merely a strain, and will ‘not’ affect his season. However, there is still a doubt. 

But wait, the thread of posts on X/Twitter is not over here. Dr. David J. Chao, who recently shared his take on Derek Carr‘s shoulder injury, has also shed some light on Dre Greenlaw’s quad injury. He explained, “Key to quad injury is muscle vs tendon. Muscle strain/tear is short-term and Tendon tear is long-term.” They haven’t revealed the nature of Dre’s quad injury. It could be a result of Sean Payton’s team not clarifying anything on the newly added free agent. 

Bo Nix‘s team inducted Greenlaw as a free agent this offseason. Surprisingly, the 27-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Broncos, which goes up to $31.5 million. That’s why it’s scary to think about Dre Greenlaw’s season-ending off-the-field injury, especially since the Broncos were expecting the Arkansas alum to strengthen their defense.

If we look at the defense rankings of 2024, the Broncos ranked 7th in the entire league. Wasn’t that impressive? Their defense allowed 317.1 yards per game while allowing 32 touchdowns. So, the numbers are great for 2024, but Sean Payton and Vance Joseph want to pull up more reps to make it the best. Just like Vic Fangio’s defense in 2024. 

But hold on for a sec… There is not only bad news for Denver fans, but also some great news regarding the injured LB. Let’s dive deep to know more. 

Good news amid Drew Greenlaw’s serious quad injury

A PRP, stem cells specialist, Dr. Jesse Morse, shared his final verdict on Dre Greenlaw’s quad injury. Responding to Allbright and Ian Rapoport, the doctor offered a positive update: “Great news! If this were a quadriceps tendon tear, there’s a good chance it would have required season-ending surgery.” This news provided relief to fans who might have been worried about Greenlaw’s 2021 season with the 49ers.

In the 2021 season, it seemed like a beautiful day on September 12—until Greenlaw suffered a groin injury during the season opener against Detroit. He was placed on IR and missed nine regular-season games, more than half of the season. Still, he managed to rack up 21 total tackles. Compared to his 2024 season, that’s quite an impressive number.

Fast forward to 2024, and Greenlaw has only recorded nine tackles after playing two games. Yep, just two games. And why the drop-off? He suffered an Achilles injury, according to Draft Sharks, which derailed his 2024 season.

That’s why when NBC Sports first confirmed Dre Greenlaw’s potential season-ending injury, it was more than a shock as the franchise has spent more than 31 million on him for three years despite knowing his injury-laden past. Well, Dr. Jesse Morse has dropped a positive update, but let’s see if it becomes true.