ENGLEWOOD – So much for Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw having been limited last Friday in practice.

Just when it looked as if Greenlaw might be on the road to recovery from a quad injury, he sat out practice Wednesday and only did work on a side field at Broncos Park. Greenlaw, injured in a July 31 practice, sat out all of the Broncos’ three preseason games and their first two regular-season games and has not had a full practice since the start of the regular season.

Payton was asked about the Broncos not putting Greenlaw on injured reserve before the start of the season, which would have resulted in him missing four games.

“We felt like he’s kind of on our schedule and look we spent time on it because it’s a little nebulous relative to the injury,” Payton said. “And that’s all I’ll say.”

Also not practicing Wednesday was tight end Evan Engram due to a back injury and linebacker Justin Strnad with a foot injury. Safety Talanoa Hufanga was limited with a chest injury. Cornerback Pat Surtain II, who suffered an ankle injury in last Sunday’s 29-28 loss at Indianapolis and missed one defensive play, was not listed on the injury report.

Engram suffered a calf injury in Denver’s Sept. 7 opener against Tennessee before returning to play against the Colts. Payton declined to comment on his injury.

Tight end Nate Adkins was a full participant in practice for the first time after undergoing ankle surgery a month ago, putting him in position to make his season debut Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers. Adkins was a limited participant in last Friday’s workout.