The Denver Broncos cut a key defensive leader, safety T.J. Ward, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Denver tried to shop Ward in the week leading up to his release, but no trade partners materialized.
Broncos cut T.J. Ward, but don’t expect him to be on the market for long
The three-time Pro Bowler will find another home quick.
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Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
The departure of Ward will be felt in the Broncos’ locker room. Von Miller said this week that he hoped the team wasn’t actually planning to move on from the three-time Pro Bowler.
“I thought it was fake news,” Miller said Wednesday, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “I mean I didn’t think — it’s serious like that? It can’t be that serious. T.J.’s been a great player for us, but it’s the National Football League. You always get blindsided by stuff.”
Why did the Broncos cut Ward? Ward is a hard hitter who plays fast, which is what drew the Cleveland Browns to him when they drafted him with the 38th overall pick in the 2010 draft. But Ward’s aggressive style of play can be a hazard. He’s been dinged up a bit here and there throughout his time in Denver.
For the most part, though, Ward was able to be on the field. He missed two games last season, four in 2015, and one in 2014. And he contributed. He led the team in solo tackles last season with 69, and he added a pick, a sack, and three forced fumbles.
Still, he’s 30, and the Broncos have young depth behind him. Ward has been rehabbing a hamstring injury this preseason and has stayed on the sideline. Justin Simmons, a third-round pick for the Broncos in 2017, filled in admirably and drew praise from head coach Vance Joseph.
“He’s a good, young player,” Joseph said of Simmons, according to the Denver Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. “We’ve played well on defense. He is definitely a good young player.”
The Broncos also save money by moving on from Ward. Ward is in the final season of his contract and is set to make $5.25 million this season. The Broncos save $4.5 million by cutting him.
What’s next for Ward? Ward is a vested veteran and is not subject to waivers. He’ll land with another team, and if Joe Haden is any indication, it probably won’t take long.
The Browns cut Haden on Wednesday morning, and by the end of the business day, he had already signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite being 30 years old, Ward is still a productive player, and he shouldn’t spend too much time on the market.
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