Broncos' Mike Purcell 'can't wait' to return from season-ending surgery

Denver Broncos starting nose tackle Mike Purcell was lost for the 2020 season in late October after it was revealed that he required surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury.  

The 29-year-old told Aric DiLalla of the team's official website that he will undergo another operation in about a month and will then face a six-to-eight week recovery process. 

"In all my years that I've played, I haven't had a big injury like this," Purcell explained. "I've had little nicks and bangs here and there, but to go on IR really hurt. It wasn't fun at all. I wouldn't say I let my team down, but in a sense, that's the way it felt. I'd do anything to be out there on that field with them." 

Purcell began last September coming off his best NFL season, during which he recorded a career-best 48 total tackles. While still far from 100%, he's already counting the days down until he can return to the field. 

"I can't wait," Purcell said of playing again. "I was jumping around the whole last part of the season when I was out. I was on the same scooter Von [Miller] was on for a while [during his rehab], but when I got back into the boot and I was able to walk, I was joking around with the equipment staff, going in there and telling Flip [Equipment Manager Chris Valenti], 'Put some cleats on the bottom of this boot, I'm ready to play.'

"I can't wait to get back out there. It was rough watching the rest of the season without being able to be there. I just wanted to help any way I could to help the team win. No matter how this offseason goes and whether we have a program, we'll see. We're just looking forward to getting back on the field with my fellas and just playing football."

Purcell tallied 15 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit across six games last season before the injury. According to Spotrac, he is signed through the 2023 campaign.