Coach Sean Payton said Thursday that Sterns (knee), who's on the active/PUP list, still needs some time to regain full health, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
Sterns suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee last Week 1 and missed virtually all of the 2023 season. Ruptured patellar tendons are notoriously one of the toughest injuries to overcome in football. The Broncos signed veteran safety Brandon Jones in free agency and also have P.J. Locke as an experienced option on the back end should Sterns not be ready for the 2024 opener.