Denver Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith tears ACL, ending 2023 season
The Denver Broncos have suffered another season-ending injury.
Linebacker Jonas Griffith tore his ACL and is out for the 2023 season, head coach Sean Payton told reporters after training camp practice on Thursday. Per ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Griffith was injured Tuesday and limped off the field. He has not practiced since then.
Griffith was entering his third season in the NFL and will be placed on injured reserve. He joined the Broncos in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana State. Last year, he played in nine games, starting eight and had 46 tackles and one interception. He injured his foot halfway through the year and sat out from Week 11 onward.
"It's unfortunate 'cause he was one of those guys who was rehabbing too," Payton, who is in his first year as Broncos head coach, said. "Saw him a lot and been trying to keep his spirits up."
Which other Broncos players have been injured during training camp?
Wide receiver Tim Patrick suffered a torn Achilles on Monday after stepping awkwardly, effectively ending his 2023 season. He also sat out the entirety of last season after tearing his ACL almost a year ago to the day of his recent injury.
Fellow wideout K.J. Hamler will also sit out at least part of the upcoming season in what he called "a quick break" to deal with a heart inflammation called pericarditis.
What did Broncos coach Sean Payton have to say about the injuries?
After sharing the news that Griffith's season was over with the ACL injury, Payton responded to questions asking if the injuries were especially concerning in his first year with the team.
"I don't think it's out of the ordinary, honestly," he said. "I can't speak for the past, but in training camp, you get a few of these. Hopefully, you don't get as many as other teams, but we look closely at everything we do leading up to the drills and practice. One was really a fluke injury and then the other one happened in a special teams play where he stepped on a foot."