Former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Matt Paradis signed a multi-year deal with the Carolina Panthers last week, marking the end of his five-year tenure with the Broncos.

Denver president John Elway says that the Broncos really didn't want to see Paradis go elsewhere, but that his ankle issues were too concerning to ignore:

“I think that obviously we didn’t want to lose Matt, but we had real concerns about the ankle,” said Elway, according to Zack Kelberman of CBS Sports. “That is why that didn’t work out. I’m happy for Matt. I really am. I’m happy for Matt that he got the opportunity in Carolina. It had nothing to do with Matt’s ability, but we had big concerns about that ankle. Like I said, I’m happy for Matt that he got what he got from Carolina. I hope that works out for him.”

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Paradis played in just nine games this past season due to a fractured fibula. Elway had previously stated earlier in the offseason that the Broncos would have liked to have had Paradis back, but that the injury would pose some issues in negotiations:

“We’ve told him that we would like to have him back, but he’s coming off of a pretty significant injury,” he said on Feb. 27. “We have to evaluate that process. Matt has been a great warrior for us for four years. But obviously, with the injury that he did have, that changes the thought process. We’ll have to see where that falls.”

The 29-year-old was originally selected by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.