A former Denver Broncos special teams player has reached a settlement with the NFL following a lawsuit over a season-ending knee injury he suffered during a game in 2022.
Aaron Patrick tore his ACL during overtime of the Broncos’ “Monday Night Football” game against the L.A. Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The injury occurred when he stepped on a mat placed on the turf to cover cords and cables for the league’s instant replay monitors. Patrick claimed that in an effort to avoid colliding with an NFL official positioned on the sidelines, his foot got caught in the mat, causing his knee to bend awkwardly.
The 28-year-old filed a lawsuit, pointing the blame at the NFL, L.A. Chargers, ESPN, and the mat company involved. He argued that the injury could have been prevented. Patrick sued for unspecified damages, including lost bonuses and future earning potential.
Earlier this week, a conditional settlement was reached with all parties named in the lawsuit, although the terms of the deal remain unclear. Patrick’s attorney, William M. Berman, stated that his client is pleased to move forward and focus on his career. The Broncos waived Patrick in August 2023, and he has not been signed by another team since.