Jonas Griffith missed all of last season due to an ACL tear, and he is now set to miss a second straight campaign for the same reason. The former Broncos linebacker announced he has surgery lined up for another ACL repair. 
Griffith noted the most recent tear affects the same knee which was injured last August. He faces another lengthy rehab process as a result, and the news of his new injury helps explain why the Broncos cut him earlier this week. That move saw him waived without an injury designation, and ended his bid to land a starting gig.
The 27-year-old spent much of the offseason competing with Cody Barton for a first-team role next to Alex Singleton. Once Griffith was let go, it became clear Barton – added on a one-year free agent deal worth $2.5MM fully guaranteed – would win out. Griffith went unclaimed on Wednesday, making him a free agent. Given his latest injury setback, though, he is likely to remain on the open market until he returns to full health.
The former UDFA made 22 appearances, including 12 starts, between the 2021 and ’22 campaigns with the Broncos. He logged a part-time defensive role during that span while also seeing a notable workload on special teams. Despite missing all of last season (after being sidelined for the end of the 2022 slate), Griffith signed a one-year extension this winter. That $985K pact did not include any guaranteed money.
Singleton and Barton are joined by Drew Sanders and Justin Strnad at the linebacker spot as things currently stand for the Broncos. Denver could add further depth at the position in the wake of Griffith’s injury, but in any case he will once again turn his attention to recovery instead of preparation for the season.
Does his being waived without an injury designation or being placed on the IR keep him from getting any settlement from the Broncos? That sounds pretty harsh.
That’s a funny name…