Former Buff Lindsay Leaves Game Early with Injury, Broncos Lose

During this odd fall semester with no PAC-12 sports for the remainder of 2020, the sports staff at The Bold will be tracking former Colorado Buffaloes who are playing in the pros. This week, we are checking in with running back Phillip Lindsay, as he began his third NFL season with his hometown team, the Denver Broncos, on Monday night. 

After graduating in 2018, Lindsay went undrafted despite being the Buffaloes’ leader in all-purpose yards, a record that he set in just 51 career games. Signed by Denver as a free agent following the draft, he then went on to become the first undrafted player ever to have back-to-back seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards. He has reached the end zone 17 times over his career, and last year started all 16 games for the Broncos.

Lindsay, who has been a key voice in leading the team’s social justice effort, wore Elijah McClain’s name on the back of his helmet during the Broncos’ Monday night game against the Tennessee Titans. McClain, a 23-year-old black man, was killed during an encounter with police last year in Aurora, Colorado, Lindsay’s hometown. Prior to kickoff, both teams lined up on the 25-yard-lines and participated in a moment of silence as a tribute to social justice. 

In a crowded Denver backfield that includes former Los Angeles Charger Melvin Gordon, the 2018 Pro Bowl selection rushed seven times for 24 yards and caught an 11-yard-pass in the first half. Lindsay led the snap count in the backfield before he left the game with an injury. He was later diagnosed with a foot injury, did not return from the locker room with the rest of the team after halftime and was ultimately ruled out for the rest of the game.

After taking a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos allowed Titans’ quarterback Ryan Tannehill to drive down the field and set up Stephen Gostkowski for the game winning field goal, giving Tennessee a 16-14 lead they would hold for the final 15 seconds. Lindsay’s explosiveness and breakout spread could have made the difference in the second half, as Denver was only able to score seven points after halftime.

Following the game, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio called Lindsay’s toe injury a “turf toe type of thing” and the severity is unknown at the time. He is being ruled questionable for next week’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.