Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton confirmed that starting inside linebacker Alex Singleton will be sidelined for roughly a week after breaking his thumb during Monday’s training camp practice. Singleton underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday and is anticipated to return before next week’s joint practices against the San Francisco 49ers.
Payton addressed the injury and recovery timeline, stating,
“I think [he had] surgery today, and we’re looking at the thumb,”
and added,
“He’ll be back, I want to say I think tomorrow afternoon. Then really it’s more about just the wound and the incision. He’ll probably miss a week.”
—Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Head Coach
Singleton’s Recovery Comes Less Than a Year After ACL Injury
Singleton, a defensive captain for the Broncos, is still recovering within a year from a torn ACL that ended his previous season prematurely. He had surgery during the offseason and has since been running without restrictions alongside newly acquired linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Payton highlighted the complementary roles the two linebackers play on the field and emphasized the boost Singleton’s healthy return would bring to the defense.
“Alex is in the Mike position. Dre is in more that weakside Mo or Will. A little bit more run and hit for Greenlaw. I think they both have an understanding… They’re both smart players,”
Payton noted.
“To have Alex back healthy is big. Then with the experience of Dre, if we can stay healthy they’re pretty formidable.”
—Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Head Coach
Emergence of Levelle Bailey Amid Linebacker Injuries
While Singleton is sidelined and inside linebacker Drew Sanders remains out with a foot injury expected to keep him off the field for four to six weeks, the Broncos have promoted undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey to the first-string linebacker group. Bailey has impressed during early training camp sessions, showcasing his ability to make plays in both coverage and run defense.
Payton praised Bailey’s progress, sharing,
“He’s had a few good days. Real good days. I think you’re getting a player into his second year with confidence. He’s in good shape. He looks like an NFL linebacker too. It’s funny because I can recall these stories of post-draft conversations and like an hour recruitment of him. You’ll have that happen with a number of players, and then a couple might go somewhere else. Then you’re pulling out all stops, and I’m glad we stayed patient in that process with him and we were able to get him because there were a number of teams interested. I would say I’ve clearly seen a jump from Year 1 to Year 2 in his confidence.”
—Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Head Coach
Broncos Confident in Linebacker Corps Despite Ongoing Evaluations
In addition to Bailey’s emergence, the Broncos evaluated several linebackers, including former Green Bay Packers starter Krys Barnes, but did not offer contracts to any of them. This suggests the team’s confidence in Singleton’s eventual return and Bailey’s development remains strong for the long term, despite short-term depth challenges.
The return of Alex Singleton is expected to bolster the Broncos’ defensive leadership and overall linebacker stability as the team prepares for the regular season. His eventual comeback, combined with the maturation of young players like Bailey and the health of key contributors such as Dre Greenlaw, will likely be crucial to Denver’s defensive performance moving forward.