NFL: Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Denver Broncos starting inside linebacker Alex Singleton will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his knee. Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced the news Wednesday, adding that Singleton will undergo surgery within the next two weeks. Denver placed Singleton on injured reserve later in the day. Singleton, 30, sustained the injury in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He suffered the injury in the first quarter but played through it. He reported soreness in the knee after the game, leading to tests confirming the injury. "It happened on the play on the interception," Payton said. "That was fairly early. it's unusual. His tear was unusual in that it caused some bruising, but fortunately it's just the ACL. It's unusual for a player to feel asymptomatic if you will." Singleton was Denver's leading tackler through three weeks, with 31, also good for tied for eighth in the league. He also had an interception in Week 1. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II was stunned that Singleton's injury was season-ending. "It's crazy. It's a tough blow and a tough loss," Surtain said. "Honestly he's a key leader to our team. Losing a guy like that is pretty hard. Obviously everybody is rallying behind him. Our prayers are up to him. Wishing him a speedy recovery." Singleton is in the second year of a three-year deal worth $18 million he signed with the Broncos in March 2023. Singleton signed with Seattle as undrafted free agent in May 2015 but didn't make his NFL debut until 2019 with Philadelphia. He has 633 career tackles, four sacks and three INTs in 79 career games (50 starts) with the Eagles (2019-21) and Broncos. Justin Strnad is behind Singleton on the Broncos' depth chart. The Broncos signed linebackers Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to the practice squad. Alexander, 30, has 631 tackles, 13.5 sacks and nine interceptions in 104 games (88 starts) over 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-18), San Francisco 49ers (2019-20), New Orleans Saints (2020-21), the New York Jets (2022) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2023). Payton was the Saints' head coach when Alexander played in New Orleans. Cunningham, 29, has played in 95 games (86 starts) with the Houston Texans (2017-21), Tennessee Titans (2021-22) and Philadelphia Eagles (2023). He has 705 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one interception, five forced fumbles and four fumbles recovered. Denver also promoted running back Tyler Badie to the active roster. Badie is in his third NFL season. --Field Level Media