Former Broncos QB Paxton Lynch suffers injury in Arena League comeback

The 2016 first-round pick was attempting to revive his NFL career in the Arena Football League.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:46pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player's body fractured into overlapping planes of muted earth tones with flashes of bright color, conceptually representing the devastating injury that ended a former first-round draft pick's comeback attempt.A former first-round NFL draft pick's attempt to revive his professional football career ends in a devastating injury, exposing the fragility of athletic careers.Denver Today

Paxton Lynch, the former first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos, has suffered a devastating injury while attempting a comeback in the Arena Football League. Lynch, who was selected 26th overall by the Broncos in 2016, had not played in the NFL since 2017 and was hoping to use the Arena League as a springboard to revive his professional football career.

Why it matters

Paxton Lynch was once considered a promising young quarterback prospect, but his NFL career never materialized after being selected in the first round by the Broncos. This latest injury setback is a disappointing turn of events for the 29-year-old, who was looking to prove he still has what it takes to play at the professional level.

The details

According to reports, Lynch suffered a gruesome leg injury during a game with the Albany Empire of the Arena Football League. The injury occurred as Lynch was scrambling in the pocket, and initial assessments indicate it could be a season-ending or even career-threatening injury. Lynch had signed with the Empire earlier this year in an attempt to showcase his skills and potentially earn another shot in the NFL.

  • Paxton Lynch was selected 26th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft.
  • Lynch played for the Broncos from 2016 to 2017 before being released.
  • He signed with the Albany Empire of the Arena Football League in 2026 to attempt a comeback.

The players

Paxton Lynch

A former first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2016 who is now attempting a comeback in the Arena Football League.

Denver Broncos

The NFL team that drafted Paxton Lynch in the first round in 2016.

Albany Empire

The Arena Football League team that Paxton Lynch signed with in 2026 to try and revive his professional football career.

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What they’re saying

“I was like, 'OK, if I play this year in arena football, maybe I can get back to the NFL.'”

— Paxton Lynch, Former Broncos QB

What’s next

It is unclear if Paxton Lynch will be able to recover from his latest injury and continue his professional football career. The severity of the injury will likely determine if he has a path forward or if this latest setback marks the end of his time in the sport.

The takeaway

Paxton Lynch's story is a cautionary tale about the challenges of sustaining an NFL career, even for a highly touted first-round draft pick. His inability to find success at the professional level and now this latest devastating injury serve as a reminder of how difficult it is to make it in the NFL and the fleeting nature of a player's time in the league.