According to Zack Kelberman of Sports Illustrated on Thursday, Denver Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith of Louisville, Kentucky is out for the rest of the 2023 National Football League season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The injury occurred during Broncos training camp.
In 2022, Griffith played nine games with the Broncos, and had 46 combined tackles (26 solo tackles and 20 assisted tackles), three quarterback hits, one interception for one yard, and one pass deflection. The interception and pass deflection came in an 11-10 Broncos win over the San Francisco 49ers on September 25. It was only the second 11-10 scoreline in the history of the National Football League. The first 11-10 score came on November 16, 2008 as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers.
In Griffith’s career, he now has 92 combined tackles (48 solo tackles and 44 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits, one interception for one yard, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery in 22 games. Griffith’s fumble recovery came in his rookie season on November 7, 2021 in a 30-16 Broncos win over the Dallas Cowboys.
With the loss of Griffith, the Broncos signed Austin Ajiake. A rookie, Ajiake played for UNLV at the running back position, and is now being converted over to defense.
This is the second significant injury for the Broncos during training camp. Earlier this week, Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick of San Diego, California tore his Achilles and is also out for the entire 2023 NFL season. This is the second straight year that Patrick suffered a season-ending injury during training camp. Last year, he also tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
