Denver Broncos Rumors: DeMarcus Ware expected to miss Browns game

By Kevin Parvizi | Oct 13, 2015

The Denver Broncos defense is an unstoppable force right now, and the MVP of this unit so far has been veteran outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Even as Father Time has caught up to Peyton Manning, Ware is a 33-year-old edge rusher who looks as deadly as he did as a 27-year-old, as he’s already up to 4.5 sacks in five games. And who’s to say he wouldn’t have at least 5.0 sacks on the season if he didn’t suffer an injury (back strain) in last week’s narrow victory over the Oakland Raiders?

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Is Peyton the most important player in the NFL this season?

In any case, it doesn’t look like Ware will be able to add to his sack total until at least Week 8, because ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the Broncos are planning on holding Ware out through the Week 7 bye week. Guess who is on the schedule for Week 8? Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. On the bright side for the Broncos, that’s a home game. There’s no guarantee Ware will be ready by then, but it makes much more sense for the Broncos to try to get him as healthy as possible for that huge matchup against one of the NFL’s other undefeated Super Bowl contenders.

More from Denver Broncos

Werder’s report jibes with a report yesterday from the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who was informed that Ware is expected to miss two weeks. That puts him on track to return in Week 8 against the Packers, which is a Sunday Night Football game on the first of November.

So which game is DeMarcus Ware scheduled to miss? A battle with the Cleveland Browns. Although the Browns have looked like no cakewalk these past two weeks with Josh McCown re-inserted as the starter (they gave the San Diego Chargers a scare before beating the Baltimore Ravens in overtime), even the Browns suddenly high-flying passing attack will find it difficult to move the ball against a ridiculously good Broncos defense.

Even with Ware out, the Browns would still have to keep an equally effective edge defender in Von Miller at bay, and Shaq Barrett and Shane Ray are not players to be taken lightly. In fact, both of those two young outside linebackers had sacks in the team’s 16-10 win over the Raiders, so even Joe Thomas and the Browns line would figure to have their hands full with those guys and Miller off of the edge.

Holding Ware out this week makes obvious sense for the Denver Broncos, and it isn’t just because the Packers are a much better team than the Broncos. Giving Ware an extra two weeks of rest is key, because it’s all about making sure the 33-year-old is fresh for the long haul, since he’s been such a monster this year. I don’t know if he’s the premier Defensive Player of the Year candidate in the NFL right now, but he’s certainly up there on that list.

As it stands right now, the Broncos have the NFL’s second-best scoring defense and are allowing an insanely low 4.7 net yards per pass attempt. Not only do they have the NFL’s best outside linebacker duo right now, but you could easily make the case for Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib as the best CB duo in the league, too.

Next: Can Demaryius Thomas be as good as these legendary WRs?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Denver Broncos