Jonas

Griffith

Griffith was set to be a restricted free agent in the offseason. He missed the entirety of the 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL at the beginning of August. The new contract and the timing of his injury should mean that he will be back in action by the start of the 2024 season. Griffith entered the league as a UDFA in 2020 and saw his first regular season action after the Broncos traded for him a year later. He was elevated to a starting role in his second season with the Broncos but a foot injury eventually ended his campaign in November. Though injuries have been an issue for Griffith, he should get a shot at a rotational role in training camp.

This is devastating news for Griffith, who saw his 2022 come to an end with a foot injury suffered in mid-November. Griffith joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has posted 92 tackles in 22 career games. He started eight of the nine games he appeared in last season and had a chance to earn significant snaps heading into this season.

Griffith suffered a foot injury in practice and will be out indefinitely -- with not that much time left, most Broncos beat writers believe he’ll be out for the remainder of the season. Griffith has started most games for the Broncos this year and been extremely up-and-down -- he had three PFF game grades of under 40, and four above 65. He’ll be part of the starting conversation in 2023 as an exclusive right free agent.

It’s good news for his availability for Week 1 against Seattle. The Broncos aren’t required to put out an injury report yet, but the initial timeline on Griffith was thought to be 3-6 weeks in mid-August after he dislocated his elbow. He looks to be on the early side of that estimate, and he may start against Seattle after leading the competition at linebacker early in training camp.

Griffith told a reporter that the elbow was dislocated, which typically carries a multiple-week timetable to return to play. Alex Singleton is probably the next man up in Denver’s linebacker corps. Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett didn’t offer much detail about the injury after the game.

All three were exclusive rights free agents. Rypien had a four-interception start against the Jets in 2020, but only attempted two passes in 2021 as a backup. He may be in line to be Russell Wilson’s backup in 2022 unless the Broncos sign someone else, as they’ve traded Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater is a free agent.

The Broncos have been active on the trade circuit as teams make their final roster cut downs. Griffith, 24, played five seasons at Indiana State and recorded 382 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. He’s unlikely to see much playing time in Denver.