ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Broncos will lose defensive end Derek Wolfe to a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the league announced Friday.
Wolfe can remain with the team throughout training camp and the preseason, but will begin serving his suspension on Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. MDT, when the roster must be trimmed to 53 players. He cannot return to the team until Monday, Oct. 5, one day after the Broncos' Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
In a statement, Wolfe offered his "most sincere apology" to the Broncos organization, teammates and fans. He noted that the suspension was caused by medication that he took.
"During the offseason I took a medication which is on the banned substance list," he said in the statement. "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."
Without Wolfe, a greater burden will fall upon a group of defensive ends led by veterans Malik Jackson and Vance Walker.