The Denver Broncos will be without safety T.J. Ward for a Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens after he was suspended by the NFL for one game, the team announced Thursday. Ward already tried to appeal the suspension but it was denied, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
Broncos S T.J. Ward suspended 1 game
T.J. Ward was suspended for his involvement in an altercation at a nightclub in May 2014.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Ward’s first game of the 2015 season will come on Sept. 17 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ward, 28, started 15 games for the Broncos in 2014 and earned Pro Bowl honors after signing a four-year, $23 million contract with the team in the offseason. According to Garafolo, Ward’s suspension is for an incident that happened at a strip club shortly after signing, which violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Ward was arrested for his involvement in an altercation that happened at the nightclub.
Prior to signing with the Broncos, Ward spent four seasons as the starting safety for the Cleveland Browns, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2013 with a pair of defensive touchdowns and 112 tackles.
With Ward out of the lineup, the Broncos will likely rely on David Bruton to fill in at strong safety in Week 1. Bruton has played in 91 games in six seasons with the Broncos, but has just five career starts, including one in 2014 when Ward sat out with a neck injury.
NFL Suspensions in 2015
| Player | Team | Length | Reason |
| WR Josh Gordon | Cleveland Browns | 16 games | Substance abuse |
| DE Dion Jordan | Miami Dolphins | 16 games | Substance abuse |
| S LaRon Landry | Free Agent | 10 games | PED policy |
| WR Ace Sanders | Free Agent | 10 games | Substance abuse |
| WR Jerome Simpson | San Francisco 49ers | 6 games | Substance abuse |
| TE Antonio Gates | San Diego Chargers | 4 games | PED policy |
| DE Greg Hardy | Dallas Cowboys | 4 games | Domestic violence |
| DE Derek Wolfe | Denver Broncos | 4 games | PED policy |
| DE Sheldon Richardson | New York Jets | 4 games | Substance abuse |
| LB Rolando McClain | Dallas Cowboys | 4 games | Substance abuse |
| RB Trey Watts | St. Louis Rams | 4 games | Substance abuse |
| OL Eben Britton | Free Agent | 4 games | Undisclosed |
| OLB Victor Butler | New York Giants | 4 games | PED policy |
| OL Ryan Seymour | Cleveland Browns | 4 games | PED policy |
| WR Martavis Bryant | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4 games | Substance abuse |
| DT Jeremiah Ratliff | Chicago Bears | 3 games | Substance abuse |
| CB Sean Smith | Kansas City Chiefs | 3 games | Substance abuse |
| OT Bobby Massie | Arizona Cardinals | 3 games | Substance abuse |
| DT Letroy Guion | Green Bay Packers | 3 games | Offseason arrest |
| RB Le'Veon Bell | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 games | Substance abuse |
| CB Jabari Price | Minnesota Vikings | 2 games | Substance abuse |
| WR Da'Rick Rogers | Free Agent | 2 games | DUI |
| DT Akeem Spence | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| FB Orson Charles | New Orleans Saints | 1 game | Personal conduct |
| RB LeGarrette Blount | New England Patriots | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| DT Marcell Dareus | Buffalo Bills | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| RB Ahmad Bradshaw | Free Agent | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| DE Datone Jones | Green Bay Packers | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| OL Oday Aboushi | New York Jets | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| CB Bashaud Breeland | Washington | 1 game | Substance abuse |
| S T.J. Ward | Denver Broncos | 1 game | Personal conduct |
| WR Justin Blackmon | Jacksonville Jaguars | Indefinite | Substance abuse (2013) |
| LB Daryl Washington | Arizona Cardinals | Indefinite | Substance abuse (2014) |
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