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Paxton Lynch’s first XFL sport began with a landing cross on the sport’s opening drive. It ended with him being pulled after throwing a pricey interception late within the third quarter along with his staff trailing by double digits. Lynch’s staff, the Orlando Guardians, in the end fell to the Houston Roughnecks, 33-12, in Week 1 of the rebooted league’s 2023 season on Saturday evening.
Lynch, who was the Broncos’ first-round decide (twenty sixth total) within the 2016 NFL Draft, completed the sport with 136 yards and a landing on 15 of 21 passing. But he was sacked 4 instances and was unable to transform on a number of fourth downs as Orlando fell behind 21-6 at halftime.
Lynch was pulled after he was picked off by Houston’s Tavante Beckett one play after Orlando’s protection got here up with its second decide of the quarter. The Guardians did not capitalize on both decide, nevertheless, as Orlando’s offense did not do a lot after marching 77 yards on the sport’s opening drive.
Saturday evening’s benching was the newest in a sequence of on-field setbacks for Lynch, who went 1-3 throughout his transient stint because the Broncos’ beginning quarterback. After parting with Denver after the 2017 season, Lynch spent a whole yr as a free agent earlier than failing to make Seattle and Pittsburgh’s common season rosters the next two summers.
Lynch spent the 2021 season as a third-string quarterback within the Canadian Football League earlier than getting injured throughout his lone season with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers.
Lynch’s professional profession has clearly did not reside as much as what he completed at Memphis, the place his success (he threw 59 touchdowns in opposition to 23 interceptions in three seasons) led to him being the NFL’s twenty sixth total decide.