Broncos Cut Drew Sanders Off IR, Ending a Star-Crossed 2023 Draft Bet

The Denver Broncos have waived linebacker Drew Sanders off injured reserve, closing the book on a 2023 third-round pick who never got healthy enough to matter. Sanders spent much of the last three seasons unavailable, unable to string together any kind of run before the next injury hit.

The timing tells the story: Denver made the move on the eve of Week 1, cutting bait rather than carrying him into a season opener. Sanders never built on his rookie campaign, and the front office decided the roster spot was better spent elsewhere.

This wasn't a surprise so much as a formality. When a young defender misses that much time — three years of stops and starts — teams stop projecting and start counting healthy bodies. Sanders was on the wrong side of that math.

The Fantasy Fallout

If you're in an IDP league, there's nothing to salvage here. Sanders has no established role, no snap count and, most importantly, no team as of now. He's not a stash, not a handcuff, not a lottery ticket — he's a name to move on from.

Denver, meanwhile, opens the year on Monday Night Football as a 2.5-point road underdog against the Chiefs, with the total sitting at 43.5. That's a Super Bowl rematch to kick things off, and Sanders won't be part of it in any capacity.

The actionable read is simple. Drop Sanders in any format that rostered him, and don't scoop him if he lands somewhere on a practice squad. Until he signs with a team and earns real defensive snaps, there's no fantasy conversation to have. Watch the waiver wire for the linebacker who actually inherits his old snaps in Denver instead.