The Denver Broncos are coming off their first win of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but one of the NFL’s best defenses paid a heavy price. According to Mike Klis of 9News, inside linebacker Alex Singleton tore his ACL in the first quarter but played the entire game and made 10 tackles. This week he learned that his knee injury was serious and he will be placed on the injured list, which means the end of the season for him.

Singleton, 30, was named a team captain along with Bo Nix before the season. He has led the team in tackles over the past two full seasons and again led the team in tackles in three games with 31. Since coming to Denver in 2022, Singleton has been a tackling machine for the defense and that performance will be sorely missed.

This brings into focus the moves the team began this week with the signing of veteran inside linebacker Kwon Alexander and another veteran player, Zach Cunningham, to the practice squad.

Alexander, 30, has bounced around the league since taking over as coach of the Bucs in 2018. He was named to the Pro Bowl once and has played just one full season since 2016. Cunningham, 29, has also bounced around since leaving the Houston Texans in 2020, but was a fairly efficient tackler earlier in his career. He, too, hasn’t played a full season since 2020.

It is to be assumed that these two veterans will provide some sort of security as Sean Payton and Vance Joseph look to fill the huge gap that currently exists in the middle of the Broncos’ defense.