WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. — Bo Nix knows there's no replacing a player like Alex Singleton.
The figurative and literal center of Denver's defense, the inside linebacker is many things to the Broncos.
As one of two defensive captains, Singleton is an emotional leader who plays like his — impressively long — hair is on fire. He's led Denver in tackles for each of the last two seasons, and he averaged more than 10 tackles per game to start the 2024 season.
Beginning in 2024, he guided the defense, wearing the noted "green dot" that allows sideline-to-player communication. With Singleton in the middle of the defense, the Broncos have started the season with the third-ranked total defense and sixth-ranked scoring defense. The Broncos also rank in the top 10 in sacks and takeaways.
And he's tough. So tough, he played the Broncos' final 49 snaps of Sunday's win over the Buccaneers with a torn ACL.
"If I had to explain Alex in one thing, I would just point that one out," Nix said Wednesday. "… I don't think anybody really even knew. … It just shows how tough he is, shows how much of a leader he is that whatever he can do for the team, he's going to go out there and put his body on the line. It exemplifies what it means to be a captain, and that's why he's one of ours."
Added cornerback Pat Surtain II: "I couldn't tell. He played lights out with a [torn] ACL. That's a testament to the type of player he is. Alex, he's a true competitor, a true warrior out there. Seeing a guy out there just give it all for his team speaks volumes for the type of person he is."
So no, the Broncos cannot replace a player like Singleton, who was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. Head Coach Sean Payton said he's "never seen anyone play that long" on a torn ACL, and he said team personnel and Singleton were both surprised earlier in the week by the results of a merely precautionary MRI.
Denver, though, will find a way to move forward. Payton said the Broncos have "two or three different directions we'll go," but he declined to outline the specific options for Week 4 and beyond.
"I'm not going to cover them, but we've got a handful of guys," Payton said.
In addition to starter Cody Barton, the Broncos could look to Justin Strnad and Kristian Welch on their active roster. Denver also signed veteran inside linebackers Zach Cunningham and Kwon Alexander to their practice squad on Wednesday.
The key — no matter who specifically fills in for Singleton — will be for the players around him to elevate their play, as well.
"I'm not worried about who takes his spot," Payton said. "It's [about] everyone else picking up the slack in place of him."
And while Nix acknowledged the loss was "really tough," he also agreed with Payton's sentiment that the team can rise up around him on both sides of the ball.
"He does a lot on the field for us," Nix said. "He's one of those guys that when he's on the field, everyone feels a lot better. It's going to be tough. We're going to have to definitely play big and play important roles around him.
"You can't replace a guy like Alex, but you can rise up around him and help that loss out a little bit."
Surtain said he'll need to increase his own leadership role with Singleton out to ensure "the standard stays the same" for a strong Denver defense.
"Obviously, it's next man up," Surtain said. "It's the next opportunity for other guys to step in and step up."
Against a talented New York Jets offense, the Broncos will get their first test in Singleton's absence.
