Derek Wolfe Suspended: Impact on Broncos Defensive Line
Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe was suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy against performance enhancing drugs, the team announced on Friday.
Wolfe, a 2nd round draft selection in 2012, is in a contract year and will now be playing only 75 percent of the team’s regular season games due to a medication he said he was knowingly taking, but was unaware it was against NFL rules. Here’s the NFL’s statement on Wolfe:
“Derek Wolfe of the Denver Broncos has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
“Wolfe will be eligible to return to the Broncos’ active roster on Monday, October 5 following the team’s October 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
“Wolfe is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games.”
Wolfe himself responded to the situation, via the team:
“Please allow me to offer my most sincere apology to everyone in the Broncos organization, and especially to my teammates and our fans.
“During the off-season I took a medication which is on the banned substance list. The medication is not a substance which would enhance my on field performance in any way and I genuinely was unaware that it was prohibited, but players are responsible for what is in their bodies. I will certainly exercise far greater caution in the future and will seek advice relating to the permissibility of any and all medications.
“I’m very disappointed that I can’t help my team for the first four weeks of the season, but I look forward to a great season with the Broncos and can’t wait to get back on the field in week five.”
Dating back to his college days, there’s no question whatsoever that Wolfe is a hard worker. He trained extremely hard to be the Big East defensive player of the year once upon a time, and to eventually draw the eye of John Elway to be the team’s top pick in 2012.
Wolfe’s back injury in a pre-season game against the Seahawks nearly two years ago, however, has perhaps compromised his health and changed his work habits as well as whatever supplements or medication he might be on. That’s merely speculation on our part, but it would make some sense.
The absence of Wolfe, a player that has been a starter since the day he arrived in Denver pretty much, would be a blow to the Broncos’ line, but not the end of the world. This is a unit in transition, so transitioning away from Wolfe will allow another player some valuable experience with the starters and in the rotation to start the season.
This particular suspension raises questions as to whether or not Antonio Smith will be at Broncos camp after allegations that he was involved in sexual child abuse. As of now, he has not been charged, but the Broncos are sort of in a holding pattern there and expect answers sooner rather than later.
If Smith is able to participate in camp, he could be an important piece of the defensive line rotation, but the man who stands to gain the most from this is Vance Walker, a free agent addition who expected to be sort of the primary backup defensive lineman this year.
Walker’s veteran presence will help ease the blow of losing Wolfe for a few games, but where will the depth come from? Well, that could be the more intriguing storyline here, and it could come in the form of second-year end Kenny Anunike, a former traditional 4-3 defensive end who has bulked up to over 270 pounds this offseason in preparation to play a 3-4 end role. He could split time as well at the defensive end spot.
This is not the end of the world for the Broncos, though certainly not ideal, either.