Paxton lynch injury update: Former Broncos quarterback suffers season ending knee injury during comeback attempt

Paxton Lynch was trying to start fresh. After years away from the spotlight, he had returned to football with the Colorado Spartans in the National Arena League. But that comeback did not last long. On Saturday, April 13, 2026, his season came to an end after he suffered a serious knee injury in just his third game.The injury was later confirmed as a torn LCL, which means he will miss the rest of the season. The news came as a big setback for a player who was slowly finding his rhythm again. According to Fox News, the injury happened during game action, cutting short what was meant to be a new chapter in his career.After the injury, Lynch did not hide how he felt. Speaking to The Denver Post, he said, “I was pissed off. And it sucks. I didn’t want it to be like this.” Even with that disappointment, there was also a sense of peace in his words. He said it still felt good to be back on the field and playing football again.Before this, Lynch had a very different journey. He was a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, selected by the Denver Broncos. At that time, there were high hopes around him. He had also played college football for the Memphis Tigers and showed strong potential.However, things did not go as planned in the NFL. He played only five games with the Broncos before moving between practice squads. His last time on an NFL roster came in 2020 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, his path in football became uncertain.His move to the Colorado Spartans came after team owner Tony Thompson reached out to him in 2025. At first, Lynch was unsure. But later, he agreed to join. Head coach Fred Shaw believed in him and even called him a “true leader,” saying his size and style fit arena football well.On the field, Lynch showed small but positive signs. In three games, he threw three touchdown passes. More importantly, he said he played with a different mindset this time.“I was like, ‘OK, if I play this year in arena football, I’m going to play as Paxton Lynch. I’m going to have full confidence in myself. I don’t really care.’ And that’s what I did,” he said.Even though the injury stopped his season, Lynch said he would still support his team. The Spartans are currently 2-3, and he plans to attend home games if possible.If this turns out to be his final chapter in football, Lynch made it clear he will walk away feeling satisfied, knowing he gave it one more honest try.