XFL: Orlando Guardians sign former Denver Broncos 1st round draft pick QB Paxton Lynch

| American Football | 02/01/2023

According to a tweet by XFL Analyst, the Orlando Guardians of the XFL, have signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch.

The 6’7″, 245 pound, 28 year old native of San Antonio, Texas was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft after playing at the University of Memphis. He spent two seasons with the Broncos before being released.

He played in his first NFL regular season game on October 2, 2016, replacing an injured Trevor Siemian against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers completing 14 of 24 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in that game which the Broncos won on the road, 27-7. He started his first game in Week 5 completing 23 of 35 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the 23–16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 13, Lynch again replaced the injured Siemian against the Jacksonville Jaguars, posting 12 completions on 24 passing attempts for 104 yards in a 20–10 win.

Lynch suffered a shoulder injury during the 2017 preseason. He finally returned to the regular roster in week 11 as a backup to Brock Osweiler. Lynch was named the starter for the Week 12 game against the Oakland Raiders where he completed 9 of 14 passes for 41 yards and an interception. Lynch left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter. He returned to play in the Broncos regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he finished 21 of 31 for 254 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 27–24 loss.

Lynch was released by the Broncos early in the 2018 season. He signed with the Seahawks in 2019 and lasted through to the end of the preseason before being released. He was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers in September of 2019 and spent most of his time on the practice roster before being released in 2020.

On June 28, 2021, Lynch signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League but as the third string quarterback saw no playing time and was released in February 2022. He was then drafted as the eighth pick of the 12th round in the 2022 USFL Draft and signed by the Michigan Panthers. He started three of the six games with the Panthers throwing for 550 yards and five touchdowns and four interceptions. He suffered a leg injury and was transferred to the inactive roster on May 5, 2022.

Lynch will be battling with three other candidates – Quinten Dormady, Deondre Francois, and Mitch Kidd – for the starting Guardians’ quarterback spot.

American Football International is your source for news and updates about American Football outside the United States!