Broncos' OLB Dondrea Tillman Limited in Practice, Will Undergo 'Exams'

As the Denver Broncos gear up for their season-opener vs. the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, each day of practice has produced a twinge of concern relative to the injury report. On Wednesday, we learned that veteran inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw did not participate in practice with the same quad that he injured a week into training camp.

On Thursday, two more key players on the Broncos' defense popped up on the practice report. Limited in practice were outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman (hamstring) and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (calf).

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Following practice, 9NEWS' Mike Klis reported that Tillman is "undergoing exams" on his injured hamstring.

"Broncos backup OLB Dondrea Tillman is undergoing exams on hamstring, per source. Showed up on injury report today as did backup DL Malcolm Roach with calf," Klis posted on X.

Tillman is listed as Nik Bonitto's primary backup at weakside linebacker on the Broncos' unofficial Week 1 depth chart. Behind Tillman is Broncos' rookie Que Robinson.

What About Greenlaw?

If Tillman's injury turns out to be more severe and it causes him to miss time, at least Robinson is there to keep the rotation folowing. Robinson is also a four-core special teams contributor, so the Broncos were likely planning on dressing him regardless.

The Broncos may not feel much urgency to throw Greenlaw out there these first couple of weeks of the season. The team wants him for the long haul, as head coach Sean Payton said on Monday, and with an experienced player like Justin Strnad waiting in the wings, that could remove the compulsion to play Greenlaw, even if he's not quite 100%.

“He hadn’t played in the preseason, but he’s gotten a lot of work. We are being smart," Payton said of Greenlaw. "We’re being conservative relative to the approach. It’s a long season. So most importantly, having him not only healthy early on, but for the long haul is the goal.”

It would be disappointing to Broncos fans if Greenlaw isn't out there on Sunday, but the team is taking the long view. Greenlaw is a starter, while Tillman and Roach are backups, although both will see the field in every game, when healthy. They're key players.

The Takeaway

As for Tillman, he's coming off an impressive rookie season, notching five sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 23 tackles. That was done in relief of Bonitto and fellow starter Jonathon Cooper.

Fellow 2024 rookie Jonah Elliss also posted five sacks last season. There's a reason the Broncos led the NFL in sacks in 2024, with Bonitto, Cooper, Elliss, and Tillman combining for 34 sacks as a rush linebacker corps.

Lions Officially Announce Massive Jameson Williams Contract Extension

On Sunday morning, the day of their season-opening matchup against their division-rival Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions officially announced their massive contract extension for WR Jameson Williams. The speedster wide receiver and former first-round pick was a big part of Detroit’s offense last season, and now he’s locked up for the foreseeable future.

According to NFL inside Jordan Schultz on Saturday, the Lions signed Williams to a three-year deal worth up to $83 million on the eve of the season. The extension officially keeps Williams under contract through 2029, as he was still on the fourth year of his rookie contract this season and could have played on the fifth-year option in 2026.

Schultz adds that the deal carries $67 million in guarantees, a hefty number. The $27.6 million in average annual value ranks 13th in the league among wide receivers, just above the Bears’ D.J. Moore and just under the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle.

“The Lions have signed WR Jameson Williams to a contract extension,” the team’s press release reads. “Among all NFL players in 2024, he tied for 1st in 50+ yard catches (five) & was 2nd in receiving average (17.3). Among all NFL WRs with 50+ catches last year, he ranked 1st in YAC/reception (8.6).”

Jameson Williams Had a Breakout Season in 2024

Mike Mulholland/GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Jameson Williams #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts after a first down during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

It wasn’t a banner start to his career for Williams. The former star at Alabama in college was the No. 12 overall pick in 2022. The Lions paid a steep price to get him, trading a first-rounder (No. 32), a second-rounder (No. 34), and a third-rounder for the No. 2 pick and a lower second-rounder (No. 46). Detroit had already used a first-round pick that year on OT Penei Sewell (No. 7).

Williams was recovering from an ACL tear as a rookie and only played in six games, logging a single reception. But that one catch went for 41 yards and a touchdown, flashing his high-level potential as a game-breaking speed threat.

With just 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, many were wondering if the Lions had made a mistake drafting Williams so high. But he put those concerns to rest in a breakout 2024 campaign, when he had 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, adding an important field-stretching ability to the Lions offense.

The Detroit Lions Offense Will Have Some New Pieces This Season

The high-flying Lions offense will have some new elements this season. Star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, taking his ingenuity and creativity with him. Internal promotion John Morton has big shoes to fill, but the team has every confidence in him.

Along the offensive line, C Frank Ragnow retired and G Kevin Zeitler signed with the Titans in free agency. Graham Glasgow slides over to center to replace Ragnow, while rookie second-rounder Tate Ratledge steps in at RG for Zeitler.

Despite the new faces, this Lions offense should remain one of the NFL’s best — even if it looks a little different.

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