From First-Round Pick to Arena Football: Paxton Lynch's Comeback Just Hit a Wall

Paxton Lynch's attempt to resurrect his football career just took a brutal hit. The former Denver Broncos first-round pick tore his LCL in his third game with the National Arena League's Colorado Spartans, according to reporting from the Denver Post. The injury happened before Lynch could even make his home debut on April 11 in Denver, and his 2026 arena football season is finished.

"I was pissed off," Lynch told the Denver Post. "And it sucks. I didn't want it to be like this."

The Long Road Back

This is the latest setback for a guy who has been trying to find his way back to football for years. Lynch, 32, signed with the Colorado Spartans this season and was earning $600 per game. Before the injury hit, he'd told a teammate he wanted to keep playing until he's 45. That kind of commitment takes guts, especially after everything he's been through.

The Broncos drafted Lynch in the first round out of Memphis back in 2016. As a rookie, he lost a quarterback competition to Trevor Siemian, a seventh-rounder from 2015 who went on to start for two seasons. Then Denver brought in Case Keenum in 2018, and Lynch got cut that summer. In his time with the Broncos, Lynch went 1-3 as a starter, completing 61.7% of his passes for 792 yards with four touchdowns against four interceptions.

What Comes Next?

Since the Broncos released him eight years ago, Lynch has bounced around: two other NFL teams, one CFL team, three UFL/XFL teams, and now the NAL. This knee injury might change everything. Lynch told the Denver Post he doesn't even know yet if he'll attempt a comeback in 2027. After a significant knee injury like a torn LCL, that's a real question mark hanging over what could be the end of his pro football career.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.