The Denver Broncos have experienced relatively few injuries since Sean Payton took over as head coach, but that changed following their Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Linebacker Alex Singleton suffered a significant knee injury during the game, but the team only discovered it after he reported soreness afterward. He has now been diagnosed with a torn ACL, which will sideline him for the rest of the 2024 season.
Singleton played about two-thirds of the game with the injury, mistakenly believing he was just dealing with some discomfort. Head coach Sean Payton noted that he had never seen a player continue for so long with such an injury, as Singleton felt capable of playing again that night. However, swelling the next day led to an MRI that confirmed the severity of the injury.
Since joining the Broncos in 2022, Singleton has become a standout player and team captain, accumulating 371 total tackles over three years, including just three games this season. He also recorded the team’s first turnover of the year with an interception in Week 1.
The impact of Singleton’s absence will be significant. As a captain and the player responsible for relaying defensive play calls, his leadership will be missed. Others, like Cody Barton, Justin Strnad, or Kristian Welch, will need to step up in his role.
The Broncos have faced a tough season in terms of linebacker injuries. They lost Josey Jewell to the Panthers in free agency, nearly lost Justin Strnad to the same team, and suffered further setbacks with Drew Sanders and Jonas Griffith. Now, with Singleton out, their linebacker corps is even thinner.
On a positive note, Justin Strnad had an impressive preseason and could emerge as a key player in Singleton’s absence. The team also brought in Kristian Welch from the Packers, who has seen some defensive snaps, and added veterans Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to the practice squad, with potential activation against the Jets likely.
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