Paxton Lynch Suffers Knee Injury Ending Arena League Season

Paxton Lynch, selected as the 26th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft, has faced another setback in his professional football career. The 32-year-old quarterback was participating in the National Arena League with the Colorado Spartans, earning $600 per game, as part of efforts to return to the NFL.

During a game in Salina, Kansas, Lynch dropped back to throw a pass when a defender contacted him from the left side, causing his right knee to buckle.

The injury resulted in a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee. This has ended his season with the Colorado Spartans after just over two games. Prior to the injury, Lynch had thrown for 413 yards and eight touchdowns in those appearances.

Lynch's NFL tenure was brief. He appeared in five games over two seasons with the Broncos before his release ahead of his third year. Subsequent opportunities in other leagues, including the XFL, USFL, and CFL, did not lead to sustained playing time; he was eventually released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL.

Background on Lynch's Career Path Lynch entered the league with high expectations as a first-round selection.

His time with the Broncos included limited action, after which he sought opportunities elsewhere. In 2020, he joined the XFL with the Orlando Guardians, marking a shift to alternative professional football circuits. Stints in the USFL and CFL followed, but Lynch did not secure a roster spot beyond practice squads or initial tryouts in some cases.

These experiences highlighted the challenges of maintaining a career after early NFL promise. The move to arena football represented a lower-profile but active role in the sport.

Recent Comeback Efforts and Injury Impact Before the injury, Lynch expressed determination to continue playing into his 40s.

He told The Denver Post that he planned to play until age 45, drawing a comparison to a prolonged career in the sport. This mindset reflected his confidence regained through recent performances in the Arena League. The injury occurred early in his bid with the Spartans, limiting his participation to a few weeks.

Lynch described his immediate reaction to the setback in an interview with The Denver Post. He stated that he felt frustrated with the abrupt end to this attempt.

“I was pissed off," Lynch told The Denver Post. "I didn’t want it to be like this." Despite the season's conclusion, Lynch intends to support his teammates by attending remaining games. He is now focusing on recovery and planning for future steps, which may involve rehabilitation or alternative pursuits outside of active play. The injury raises questions about the feasibility of further comeback attempts at this stage in his career.”