The Lead

For Broncos inside linebacker Jonas Griffith, Denver's preseason opener on Sunday in Indianapolis is going to mean a little bit more.

"I am going to feel like a kid on Christmas Day," Griffith said Tuesday. "It's been [more than] 18 months since I played and put on a jersey, so I'm just thankful. I'm excited to have the opportunity to strap it up again."

The fourth-year player has battled injury during his last two seasons with the Broncos and looks forward to returning to the field this season. In 2022, Griffith recorded 24 solo tackles and his first career interception before missing the last eight games of the season due to an ankle injury.

After making his way back to the practice field in preparation of the 2023 season, Griffith suffered an ACL injury during training camp and was sidelined once again.

"I feel like last year, I fought a lot to get back and it was tough after you train for a whole offseason just to get back into playing shape and feeling ready for the season," he said. "When you get injured, it's really a gut punch. There is no other way to put it. It hurt. [I] just went back to the drawing board, and stuck to my faith, stuck to my core and went back to work."

While getting back to work meant resting and rehabbing, it also meant staying around the game and his teammates as much as possible. Griffith traveled with the team last year and regularly attended team meetings to keep his mind "up to date with football," and he believes that doing so has allowed him to hit the ground running during training camp.

While his love of the game played a huge role in his mental and physical recovery, Griffith says that the support of his teammates was equally as important in allowing him to reach this point.

"It is just me out here in Denver," he said. "My family is back in Kentucky, so I consider this my family. Just being around guys that I know care about me and that I care about was big for me. When stuff hits the fan, you have to surround yourself with good people, and people that care about you and have your best interests at heart."

Griffith looks forward to this support continuing to fuel him this season. Set to take the field for the first time since 2022, he is eager to embrace the challenge.

"I just love being out here and competing," he said. "... Where else would you rather be?"