The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign defensive back T.J. Ward, who was recently released by the Denver Broncos, according to James Palmer of NFL Network.
former #broncos safety T.J. Ward expected to sign with the Buccaneers, per source
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 3, 2017
The Broncos parted ways with Ward, a member of their vaunted defense that helped them win Super Bowl 50, due to his poor performance in training camp and partly to his non-guaranteed $4.5 million salary in the final year of his deal. In his three seasons with the Broncos, the 30-year-old Ward started 41 games.
Last season, Ward tallied 87 tackles and an interception, but he became dispensable with the emergence of second-year defender Justin Simmons in training camp. The Buccaneers already have Chris Conte and Keith Tandy as starting safeties. Ward will compete with rookie Justin Evans and offseason addition J.J. Wilcox in the Buccaneers’ depth chart.
Last season, Ward tallied 87 tackles and an interception, but he became dispensable with the emergence of second-year defender Justin Simmons in training camp. The Buccaneers already have Chris Conte and Keith Tandy as starting safeties. Ward will compete with rookie Justin Evans and offseason addition J.J. Wilcox in the Buccaneers’ depth chart.
Ward emerged as Pro Bowler
The Cleveland Browns selected Ward as the No. 38 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and quickly emerged as one of the league’s best safeties. He made it to his first Pro Bowl in 2013 after tallying 112 tackles and two interceptions. In 2014, he signed a four-year, $22.5-million contract with the Broncos, where he made the Pro Bowl two more times.
In 2015, the Broncos’ secondary, composed of Ward, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and Darian Stewart, helped the team to victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Broncos reunite with Brock Osweiler via one-year deal
The Broncos have reunited with former quarterback Brock Osweiler, signing him to a veteran minimum deal worth $775,000 as back-up to Trevor Siemian.
Broncos general manager John Elway announced that they have agreed to terms of a one-year deal with Osweiler, pending a physical. Osweiler became a free agent after he was released by the Browns, who are expected to shoulder the chunk of the quarterback’s $16 million salary, less the amount of the contract that he signed with the Broncos.
The Broncos selected Osweiler in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft and installed him as a backup to now-retired Peyton Manning. After playing the majority of his career on the bench, Osweiler got his break in 2015 when Manning went down with a foot injury, starting eight games and throwing for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns with six interceptions.
After the Broncos won Super Bowl 50, Osweiler was expected to take over the starting job when Manning announced his retirement.
However, he signed a four-year deal worth $72 million with the Houston Texans. However, Osweiler failed to deliver with the Texans, throwing just 15 touchdowns. The Texans traded him to the Browns in the offseason. He was given a chance by the Browns to compete for the starting job but he struggled in two preseason starts.
