Broncos top tackler Alex Singleton out for season with torn ACL
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. |A|
-- Denver Broncos linebacker |B|
Alex Singleton, who is |C|
the team's leading tackler |D|
and played all 57 |E|
snaps on defense in |F|
the team's win over |G|
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers |H|
on Sunday, suffered a |J|
torn ACL in the |K|
game and will miss |L|
the remainder of the |M|
season. Broncos coach Sean Payton |O|
confirmed Singleton's injury after |P|
Wednesday's practice at the |Q|
Greenbrier Resort. The Broncos |R|
will spend the week |S|
at the Greenbrier between |U|
the win in Tampa, |V|
Florida, and Sunday's game |Y|
against the Jets at |Z|
MetLife Field. Payton said Singleton |A|
suffered the left knee |B|
injury on safety Brandon |C|
Jones' interception of Buccaneers |D|
QB Baker Mayfield in |E|
the first quarter -- |F|
the eighth defensive snap |G|
of the game. Singleton |H|
limped off the field |J|
after the play but |K|
remained in the game |L|
and finished it out. "That's |M|
crazy, man," Broncos cornerback |O|
Pat Surtain II said. "That |P|
one's tough," Broncos quarterback |Q|
Bo Nix said. " |R|
... If there's a, |S|
probably a story, if |U|
I had to explain |V|
Alex in one thing, |Y|
what type of guy |Z|
he is, it would |A|
be that ... I |B|
talked to him at |C|
half and he didn't |D|
really say anything." Singleton, who |E|
leads the Broncos with |F|
31 tackles, told the |G|
Broncos' medical staff after |H|
the 26-7 victory over |J|
the Buccaneers that he |K|
had some soreness in |L|
his knee. The Broncos |M|
stayed in Tampa on |O|
Sunday night before traveling |P|
to West Virginia on |Q|
Monday. Singleton underwent an MRI |R|
in Tampa after the |S|
game. Payton said that |U|
he was informed of |V|
the results of the |Y|
MRI on Sunday night |Z|
and that Singleton had |A|
torn the ligament and |B|
would miss the remainder |C|
of the season. "First time; |D|
I've had players who |E|
had ACLs ... [but] |F|
never seen one where |G|
he felt like he |H|
could have played another |J|
game that night," Payton |K|
said. "Kind of remarkable |L|
... never seen anyone |M|
play, obviously, that long |O|
[after the injury]." Singleton's absence |P|
will leave plenty of |Q|
snaps for the Broncos |R|
to fill. Singleton also |S|
wore the coach-to-player communication |U|
device in his helmet |V|
on game days. The Broncos |Y|
signed Cody Barton, who |Z|
has played alongside Singleton |A|
at inside linebacker in |B|
the base defense, in |C|
free agency this past |D|
offseason, and Justin Strnad, |E|
in his fifth season |F|
with the Broncos, could |G|
be added in personnel |H|
groupings. Kristian Welch, who |J|
was signed just before |K|
the start of the |L|
regular season, has played |M|
some snaps at inside |O|
linebacker as well in |P|
the first three games. Singleton |Q|
had played in every |R|
game for the Broncos |S|
since he signed with |U|
the team in 2022. |V|
He has led the |Y|
team in tackles in |Z|
each of the previous |A|
two seasons, with 163 |B|
and 177, respectively. Payton said |C|
Singleton, who is with |D|
the team in West |E|
Virginia, will have surgery |F|
in roughly two weeks. "He |G|
was just as surprised," |H|
Payton said. " ... |J|
We saw him in |K|
the training room after |L|
the game; he reported |M|
some soreness. ... I |O|
think all of us |P|
were [surprised]."
