Ex-Broncos First-Round Pick Suffers Knee Injury in Arena Football Comeback

Paxton Lynch's attempt to revive his pro career in the National Arena League is cut short by a torn LCL.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a football player's injured knee, with sharp geometric shapes in navy, teal, and orange hues representing the torn ligaments and damaged joint.A former NFL first-round pick's comeback bid is derailed by a devastating knee injury, exposing the fragility of professional football careers.Denver Today

Paxton Lynch, a former first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos, has suffered a torn LCL in his third game with the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League. The 31-year-old quarterback was hoping to make a comeback in arena football after being released by the Broncos eight years ago, but this latest injury could mark the end of his professional football career.

Why it matters

Lynch was once seen as a promising young quarterback, but his NFL career never took off. His attempt to revive his pro career in the lower-level National Arena League was viewed as a last chance to prove he still had something left in the tank. This injury is a major setback and raises questions about whether he will be able to continue playing football at any level.

The details

According to the Denver Post, Lynch suffered the torn LCL injury before he was set to make his home debut with the Spartans on April 11. He was earning $600 per game and had told a teammate he planned to play until he was 45 years old. However, the significant knee injury has left Lynch unsure if he will attempt to play again in 2027.

  • Paxton Lynch suffered the torn LCL injury in his third game with the Colorado Spartans on April 11, 2026.
  • Lynch was hoping to make his home debut with the Spartans on April 11, 2026, but the injury prevented him from playing.

The players

Paxton Lynch

A 31-year-old quarterback who was a first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2016. He spent several seasons in the NFL and other professional leagues trying to revive his career before joining the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League.

Trevor Siemian

A former seventh-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos who beat out Lynch for the starting quarterback job in 2016 and 2017.

Case Keenum

A quarterback who the Broncos brought in to start in 2018, leading to Lynch's release from the team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was pissed off. And it sucks. I didn't want it to be like this.”

— Paxton Lynch, Quarterback

What’s next

Lynch told the Denver Post reporter that he is unsure if he will attempt to play again in 2027 following the significant knee injury.

The takeaway

Paxton Lynch's attempt to revive his pro football career in the National Arena League has been derailed by a torn LCL injury, potentially marking the end of his playing days. The injury is a disappointing setback for the former first-round draft pick, who was hoping to prove he still had something left to offer at the professional level.