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The Denver Broncos plan to give third-year outside linebacker Jonah Ellisssnaps at inside linebacker this season, coach Sean Payton revealed at the NFL's annual league meeting in Arizona last month.
“It’s the decision to give him snaps going forward," Payton said. "Sometimes you have to look at the skill set, and then project where you think it can go, and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that."
We'll get a better feel for Elliss' potential fit at ILB during training camp and preseason this summer. While we wait to form an opinion on his new role, the switch signals big implications for two other players.
First, the positive: Que Robinson received glowing reviews from teammates and coaches last season, but he was given limited snaps as a rookie because the team is so deep at OLB. By moving Elliss to the inside, Denver will create more opportunities for Robinson to play on the edge. It's a great sign for Robinson's long-term outlook that the team wants to get him more involved.
Second, the negative: Drew Sanders could have developed into a starting-caliber ILB by now, but injuries have derailed his career. A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders should, in theory, be a top candidate to push Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad for snaps at ILB in his fourth season. Instead, the Broncos are changing another player's position to create more depth at ILB, which can't reflect well on the team's confidence in Sanders.
Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Sanders might get one final opportunity to take the next step this summer. Meanwhile, Robinson's stock is trending up and Denver's finding ways to get Elliss more involved. The position switch seemingly signals good news for two players, but it's a worrying sign for Sanders going into 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Jonah Elliss position changes impacts 2 other players
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“It’s the decision to give him snaps going forward," Payton said. "Sometimes you have to look at the skill set, and then project where you think it can go, and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that."
We'll get a better feel for Elliss' potential fit at ILB during training camp and preseason this summer. While we wait to form an opinion on his new role, the switch signals big implications for two other players.
First, the positive: Que Robinson received glowing reviews from teammates and coaches last season, but he was given limited snaps as a rookie because the team is so deep at OLB. By moving Elliss to the inside, Denver will create more opportunities for Robinson to play on the edge. It's a great sign for Robinson's long-term outlook that the team wants to get him more involved.
Second, the negative: Drew Sanders could have developed into a starting-caliber ILB by now, but injuries have derailed his career. A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders should, in theory, be a top candidate to push Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad for snaps at ILB in his fourth season. Instead, the Broncos are changing another player's position to create more depth at ILB, which can't reflect well on the team's confidence in Sanders.
Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Sanders might get one final opportunity to take the next step this summer. Meanwhile, Robinson's stock is trending up and Denver's finding ways to get Elliss more involved. The position switch seemingly signals good news for two players, but it's a worrying sign for Sanders going into 2026.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Jonah Elliss position changes impacts 2 other players
Continue reading...
