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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterSep 25, 2024, 03:53 PM ET
- Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton, who is the team’s leading tackler and played all 57 snaps on defense in the team’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, suffered a torn ACL in the game and will miss the remainder of the season.
Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed Singleton’s injury after Wednesday’s practice at the Greenbrier Resort. The Broncos will spend the week at the Greenbrier between the win in Tampa, Florida, and Sunday’s game against the Jets at MetLife Field.
Payton said Singleton suffered the left knee injury on safety Brandon Jones‘ interception of Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield in the first quarter — the eighth defensive snap of the game. Singleton limped off the field after the play but remained in the game and finished it out.
“That’s crazy, man,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said.
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“That one’s tough,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said. ” … If there’s a, probably a story, if I had to explain Alex in one thing, what type of guy he is, it would be that … I talked to him at half and he didn’t really say anything.”
Singleton, who leads the Broncos with 31 tackles, told the Broncos’ medical staff after the 26-7 victory over the Buccaneers that he had some soreness in his knee. The Broncos stayed in Tampa on Sunday night before traveling to West Virginia on Monday.
Singleton underwent an MRI in Tampa after the game. Payton said that he was informed of the results of the MRI on Sunday night and that Singleton had torn the ligament and would miss the remainder of the season.
“First time; I’ve had players who had ACLs … [but] never seen one where he felt like he could have played another game that night,” Payton said. “Kind of remarkable … never seen anyone play, obviously, that long [after the injury].”
Singleton’s absence will leave plenty of snaps for the Broncos to fill. Singleton also wore the coach-to-player communication device in his helmet on game days.
The Broncos signed Cody Barton, who has played alongside Singleton at inside linebacker in the base defense, in free agency this past offseason, and Justin Strnad, in his fifth season with the Broncos, could be added in personnel groupings. Kristian Welch, who was signed just before the start of the regular season, has played some snaps at inside linebacker as well in the first three games.
Singleton had played in every game for the Broncos since he signed with the team in 2022. He has led the team in tackles in each of the previous two seasons, with 163 and 177, respectively.
Payton said Singleton, who is with the team in West Virginia, will have surgery in roughly two weeks.
“He was just as surprised,” Payton said. ” … We saw him in the training room after the game; he reported some soreness. … I think all of us were [surprised].”
