Sad news: Denver have just announced the retirement of two of their best players
Derek Wolfe, the defensive end for the Broncos who was sidelined by a hip injury for the entirety of the previous season, announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday.
Fans of the Broncos gave Wolfe and his family an ovation when they arrived for practice in the morning.
Regarding the announcement he made through the Broncos, he said, “I started it here, and I wanted to end it here.” “I didn’t get to do it the way I wanted to; in the trenches, you really don’t get a fairy tale coming off the field,” the player said.
Wolfe, 32, suffered an injury during a combined practice with Carolina last summer, just months after agreeing to a $12 million, three-year contract extension with the Ravens. With an injury settlement, Wolfe was released by the Ravens last month.
“I’ve already had two hip surgeries this year, and I don’t think I’ll need any more, but you never know because I still have some back issues,” he stated.
Wolfe played in 108 games (all starts) during his eight years with the Broncos after being selected by them in the second round (at pick No. 36 overall) in 2012. 33 sacks in all, including at least five sacks in four years with the Broncos.
Wolfe had a foraminotomy, a procedure that enlarges that section of the spinal column to release pressure from pinched nerves, in December 2017. The opening, which was originally 3–4 millimeters wide, was shaved with a tiny drill. The 2013 spinal cord injury was the cause of the problem.
“I’m extremely appreciative and emotional,” Wolfe remarked. “I’m relieved that the game is over because the injuries kept getting worse.”
Wolfe participated in five playoff games for the Broncos, including their victory over the Panthers in the Super Bowl. In March 2020, he signed a one-year contract with Baltimore and left the Broncos. He played in 14 games (eight starts) with the Ravens in his lone season there, recording 51 tackles and one sack.
The Broncos need to address more than just quarterbacks in the draft, such as a possible first-round edge rusher.
In 2024, will Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, or Russell Wilson be on the Broncos roster? This is what one bookmaker has to say.
Broncos NFL Mock Draft Tracker for 2024 4.0: What experts nationwide anticipate Denver will accomplish 📬 Broncos Mailbag: How likely is it that Russell Wilson and Sean Payton will team up again in 2024?
Other than a quarterback, who is the Broncos’ top NFL draft need in Keeler vs. McFadden?
350 tackles and 34 sacks were recorded by Wolfe in 122 regular-season games (116 starts).
“You guys have finally found the missing component, and that’s (quarterback) Russell Wilson; follow his lead, and he knows what he’s doing,” he told them.
More family time, bow hunting, and perhaps a media career are on Wolfe’s agenda.
“It was time to call it because the injuries were getting worse,” he stated. “Now that I’ve expended so much energy on football, I can concentrate on other things.” I can concentrate on being a husband and a father to my child.
