Broncos DT latest player to receive suspension for betting

Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike joined the infamous (and growing) list of NFL players to be suspended under the league’s betting rules.

On Monday, Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for betting on NFL games in 2022. The earliest he can apply for reinstatement is July 24, 2024.

Uwazurike is the 10th player to be suspended for gambling this offseason. Of those 10, seven have received indefinite suspensions. 

A fourth-round pick (116th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, Uwazurike played 31% of Denver’s defensive snaps last season. He had 17 tackles, a pass deflection and no sacks in eight games.

The Athletic notes Uwazurike was due for a bigger role this year. Instead, Denver will rely on other unproven young players along the interior of the defensive line.

Combined, Elijah Garcia, Jonathan Harris, Jordan Jackson and Haggai Ndubuisi have 39 tackles in five years of NFL experience. D.J. Jones, 28, and Mike Purcell, 32, are the only established veterans in the unit, and Purcell is on the Non-Football Injury list. Per Broncos Wire, Purcell had an unspecified surgery this off-season.

While the Broncos are fortunate to avoid losing a bigger contributor, Uwazurike’s suspension is an unnecessary headache for head coach Sean Payton, embarking on his first year in Denver after a 15-year career in New Orleans, which ended in 2021.

One of the brightest offensive minds in football, Payton has his work cut out for him on that side of the ball trying to resurrect quarterback Russell Wilson’s career. Add scrapping together a playable defensive line to the list.

It’s another riddle Payton must solve before the season even begins.