Paxton Lynch injury in arena league ends NFL comeback attempt
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Paxton Lynch injury in arena league ends NFL comeback attempt
Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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3 min read
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Don't call it a comeback.
FormerDenver BroncosquarterbackPaxton Lynchsaw his attempt at an NFL comeback end a short time after it began. Lynch suffered a season-ending LCL injury in his third game for the Colorado Spartans in the National Arena League, putting his dream of getting back to the NFL on hold.
Lynch was playing for $600 a game and suffered the injury on March 28 in Salina, Kansas against the Liberty, but he still considers the comeback attempt a success.
"I was like, 'OK, if I play this year in arena football,'" Lynch told the Post, "'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.
"It felt good to do that again."
It has been nearly a decade since Lynch took his last snap in the NFL. Drafted by the Broncos with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Lynch was supposed to be the league's next big thing – literally.
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
(Nathan Giese, Avalanche-Journal)
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch)
4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
(Grace Smith, IndyStar)
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
(David Purdy, Getty Images)
30/32
NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
(James Snook, Imagn Images)
31/32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
32/32
NFL mock draft: Final projection features major shift in early picks
32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
(Wesley Hale, Imagn Images)
Standing at 6-7 and weighing in at 244 pounds,Denvermade the investment with the hope that the Memphis product would lead the Broncos in the post-PeytonManningyears.
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Instead, Lynch appeared in just five games and started in four. He posted a 1-3 record and completed 61.7% of passes. He totaled four touchdowns and four interceptions, playing his last game during the 2017 season. He would go on to join theSeattle SeahawksandPittsburgh Steelersbefore fizzling out of the league ahead of the 2020 season.
In the time since, Lynch has tried a variety of ways to get back to the NFL. He made stops with the CFL, USFL and XFL before landing the opportunity to play arena football.
2016 NFL Draft QB class
A total of 15 quarterbacks were selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, including Lynch. It's a class that created some long-term starters likeJared GoffandDak Prescott.Carson Wentzappeared primed to join that list until injuries derailed his career.
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Here's a look at every quarterback selected in the 2016 NFL Draft:
