Broncos Place Inside Linebacker on Injured Reserve

Denver has lost another ILB to injury.

August 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Karene Reid (47) celebrates intercepting the football with linebacker Levelle Bailey (56) against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Denver Broncos are getting awfully thin within their inside linebacker corps.

Already down starter Alex Singleton, who underwent surgery for testicular cancer, the Broncos have now placed backup ILB Karene Reid on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.

Reid — who suffered a hamstring injury amid last week's victory over the Raiders — will miss at least the next four games before being eligible to return. The Broncos face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday ahead of their bye in Week 12.

Denver also remains without ILBs Drew Sanders and Garret Wallow, both of whom are currently on injured reserve.

The Broncos will start Dre Greenlaw and Justin Strnad against the Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High.

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Refresher on Reid

Undrafted out of Utah, where he was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection, Reid joined the Broncos following the 2025 NFL draft, participating in training camp and the preseason while impressing enough — notably as a special-teamer — to earn a spot on the club's 53-man roster.

The 6-foot, 226-pound defender has appeared in all 10 games this season, notching five combined tackles across 174 total snaps (171 on special teams).

"We’ve had some luck with these Utah guys. It’s a credit to [Utah Head] Coach [Kyle Whittingham] and the program he’s had there. He’s mature, obviously went on a mission," Broncos general manager George Paton said of Reid on Aug. 28. "He’s 25 years old, but smart, instinctive, nose for the ball, playmaker, urgent. He’s going to be a good [special] teamer. [He is] everything we want in a football player."

Aug 23, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Karene Reid (47) and linebacker Levelle Bailey (56) celebrate a fumble recovery from New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Next Man Up

As Reid was the third and final inside linebacker on Denver's active roster, the team will be forced to make a roster move, likely promoting Levelle Bailey or Jordan Turner — or both — from the practice squad to provide insurance behind Greenlaw and Strnad.

"Second year in the program, [he] took that next step, playing Mike linebacker and got stronger, did everything in the offseason that we asked," Paton said in August of Bailey, a second-year former undrafted free agent. "We feel like he’s going to be a good player. We’re high on both these players, and so we’re lucky to have them both.”