ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have ruled out two key defensive players for their opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday: inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach.

Greenlaw has been bothered by a left quadriceps injury all offseason. After pulling up lame in a one-on-one drill July 31, he was held out of the Broncos' three preseason games and both of their joint practices in training camp.

He missed practice this week, working on a side field instead.

Coach Sean Payton declined to discuss the injuries on Friday. Earlier this week, Payton said the Broncos were taking a conservative approach to Greenlaw's workload: “It's a long season, so most importantly, having him not only healthy early on but for the long haul is the goal.”

Greenlaw, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million free-agent contract with the Broncos this offseason after six years in San Francisco, has dealt with injuries ever since tearing his left Achilles tendon in the 2024 Super Bowl. He played just 36 snaps over two games last year with the 49ers.

Justin Strnad, who filled in last year when inside linebacker Alex Singleton suffered a season-ending knee injury, will likely get the start in place of Greenlaw alongside Singleton. Also on the roster is undrafted rookie Karene Reid and second-year pro Levelle Bailey is on the practice squad.

Roach left practice Thursday with a strained calf. Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson figure to divvy up his snaps on Sunday when the Broncos face quarterback Cam Ward, the top overall draft pick in 2025.

Also out for the game is Broncos tight end Nate Adkins, who recently underwent ankle surgery.

Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who was limited Thursday with a strained hamstring, was a full participant Friday and is clear to play against the Titans.

No Tennessee players were ruled out for the game.

Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed poised to play for Titans in opener on a 'pitch count'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed is poised to play his first game for the Tennessee Titans in nearly a year in the season opener Sunday at Denver.

The Titans listed Sneed as questionable Friday with the cornerback hopeful for playing in his first game since Oct. 13, 2024, against Indianapolis.

“I think I’m headed in the right direction,” Sneed said. “Going forward, the team is taking care of me. We’re all trusting in the process and taking it day-by-day. I’m going to take a pitch count and go do what I do.”

Sneed missed the final 12 games last year dealing with a quadriceps injury that put him on injured reserve. Then he started training camp on the physically unable to perform list after having a procedure in May to clean up a troublesome knee. He was activated Aug. 20 and didn't play in the preseason.

Coach Brian Callahan confirmed that Sneed will be limited in the number of snaps the cornerback plays in his return.

“He’s done all the things required of him to be ready to roll. He’s in good shape. He’s probably not in 75 plays in altitude shape, but not many guys are, and we’ll be managing that as a team in general,” Callahan said of Sneed.

The Titans are counting heavily on the two-time Super Bowl champ to start in their secondary. They traded for him in March 2024 and gave him contract that made Sneed the NFL’s fifth-highest paid cornerback at the time.

The Titans have Darrell Baker, who filled in for Sneed last season, and Jalyn Armour-Davis as other options at cornerback. Armour-Davis was claimed off waivers last week after the NFL cut deadline.

New addition

Rookie running back Kalel Mullings was added to the injury report with an ankle that limited him Friday. He is questionable. Rookie safety Kevin Winston is listed as doubtful for the opener as he is dealing with a hamstring issue.

Left tackle Dan Moore Jr., who missed Wednesday with an ankle issue, has no injury designation for the opener.

Freeland allows 2 hits, fans 10 in 8 innings and Rockies beat Padres, 3-0

DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland allowed two hits and tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in eight innings and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-0 on Friday night.

Freeland retired the first 13 batters before Ramón Laureano doubled in the fifth inning. Jose Iglesias had a two-out single in the eighth.

Freeland (4-14) was on the mound three days after being ejected eight pitches into his start against the San Francisco Giants. He made up for the truncated start with his longest outing of the season.

Laureano was his 10th strikeout victim leading off the eighth and Freeland got Jake Cronenworth to ground out after Iglesias’ two-out single. He left after 88 pitches.

The first two Padres batters in the ninth reached against Victor Vodnik but he got Manny Machado to ground into a game-ending double play for his seventh save.

Hunter Goodman gave Freeland a 1-0 lead with his 28th home run in the third inning. Jordan Beck’s RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0, and Goodman had an RBI double in the seventh.

Nick Pivetta (13-5) allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings.

Freeland's longest bid for a no-hitter came against the Chicago White Sox on July 9, 2017 in his rookie season. Melky Cabrera broke it up with a single with one out in the ninth.

Ubaldo Jimenez no-hit the Atlanta Braves on April 17, 2010 for the only one in franchise history. The only no-hitter at Coors Field was thrown by Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 17, 1996.

Key moment

After Laureno’s double, Freeland got Jackson Merrill to fly out to left and fanned Iglesias.

Key stats

Goodman tied Wilin Rosario for the most home runs by a catcher in a single season in franchise history.

Up next

San Diego RHP Randy Vásquez (3-6, 3.96 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A El Paso and face Rockies rookie RHP McCade Brown (0-2, 8.22) on Saturday night.