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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling, the league announced Monday.
Uwazurike was specifically suspended for betting on NFL games during the 2022 season.
Uwazurike, a fourth-round pick by the Broncos in the 2022 draft, will be eligible to petition for re-instatement back into the league no earlier than July 24, 2024, according to the NFL. Uwazurike, who had the opportunity to push for more playing time this season than he had as a rookie, played in eight games last season — 165 snaps on defense in all.
The Broncos said in a statement: “We were informed by the NFL (Monday) that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy. Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.”
Three players league-wide were suspended indefinitely in June for violating the gambling policy — Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts and free agent Demetrius Taylor. Tennessee Titans tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was also suspended in June for six games.
Earlier this year four Detroit Lions players and one Washington Commanders player were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who was traded by the Atlanta Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year, was suspended for all of the 2022 season for violating the policy.
During the Broncos’ offseason program, coach Sean Payton was asked about the team’s efforts to make players aware and understand the league’s gambling policy.
“We got a packet from the league. Obviously, when policies change, it’s our job to educate [the players],” he said at the time. “[Vice president of football operations & compliance] Mark Thewes was awesome. We’re professional teachers. The packet we received, we looked at, studied [it] closely and then we presented it in our own PowerPoint. I probably had 20 minutes on it to really make sure everyone has it.
“If you’re a teacher and half your class gets a D, you better look at yourself. It’s not the policy, but it’s the implementation, the understanding, and the educating of the policy. I presented a week and a half ago, and now someone officially will present [it]. Hopefully it won’t be from that eight-page handout we received because that was more confusing after I read it than it was before I looked at it. I think we’re all on the same page.”
NFL officials have said the league planned to reinforce its gambling policy to players. All rookies are required to attend mandatory education sessions and a group of league officials are making in-person visits to team facilities to emphasize and clarify what activities are prohibited.
The policy prohibits players from betting on the NFL, gambling at the team’s facility — including the team hotel during road trips — from having others make bets for them, from entering a sportsbook facility and from playing daily fantasy football.