After losing outside linebacker Von Miller to a serious ankle injury, the Denver Broncos reached out to free agent Clay Matthews. Denver was told Matthews is “not going to play,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s unclear if that means Matthews is going to retire or if it means Matthews simply doesn’t want to play for the Broncos this season.
Matthews (6-3, 255 pounds) originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick out of USC with the Green Bay Packers in 2009. He spent 10 years in Green Bay before spending last year with the Los Angeles Rams.
A six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Matthews has totaled 481 tackles and 91.5 sacks in his career. In 13 games in L.A. last season, Matthews recorded 33 tackles and eight sacks.
Matthews, 34, was one of the top players on our list of 12 free agent pass rushers who could take Miller’s place on the 53-man roster. The list also includes Terrell Suggs and Isaiah Irving, among others.
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