Broncos’ Uwazurike receives double dose of bad news

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was bad enough for Broncos defensive lineman Enyi Uwazurike that he landed on injured reserve Saturday due to the shoulder injury he suffered last week. But he also has to deal with a fine, as well.

Uwazurike received a $6,361 league fine for grabbing the face mask of Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III during last week’s 28-24 win. It is the fifth non-rescinded fine issued to a Broncos defensive player so far this season; three of them belonged to inside linebacker Alex Singleton, while Broncos safety Brandon Jones was also fined for impermissible use of the helmet in the Week 7 win over Arizona.

The fine compounded a rough few days for the four-year veteran defensive lineman, one of the players who has helped fill the void created by John Franklin-Myers’ free-agent departure in March.

Uwazurike has enjoyed a solid season to date, with two tackles for losses, a sack and five quarterback hits over the first eight games of the campaign. He has started seven games so far for the Broncos this season.

With Uwazurike out of the mix for at least the next four games, the Broncos will likely turn to veteran Jordan Jackson to pick up the slack. Denver has carried seven defensive linemen on the 53-player roster throughout the season to date, deactivating two players at the position group for all but the Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

BRONCOS FINES FOR ON-FIELD INFRACTIONS, 2024-26:

2026:

• Week 1: LB Alex Singleton, $11,941 (unnecessary roughness)
• Week 2: LB Alex Singleton, $17,911 (unnecessary roughness, rescinded)
• Week 3: RG Quinn Meinerz and WR Jaylen Waddle, $14,926 each (unsportsmanlike conduct, both rescinded)
• Week 4: LG Ben Powers, $17,911 (illegal blindside block)
• Week 6: ILB Alex Singleton, $23,882 (impermissible use of the helmet)
• Week 7: S Brandon Jones, $23,882 (impermissible use of the helmet), ILB Alex Singleton $47,662 (impermissible use of the helmet)

2025:

• Week 7: LB Dre Greenlaw, $282,778 game check and one-game suspension (verbal abuse toward officials)
• Week 7: CB Riley Moss, $8,253 (face mask)
• Week 7: LB Justin Strnad, $15,486 (physical contact with an official)
• Week 13: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $11,593 (unsportsmanlike conduct)
• Week 15: S Talanoa Hufanga, $11,593 (unsportsmanlike conduct)
• Week 16: S P.J. Locke, $11,593 (late hit)
• Week 16: DL Malcolm Roach, $17,389 (roughing the passer)
• Week 16: LB Alex Singleton, $23,186 (impermissible use of the helmet)

2024:

• Week 1: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $8,791 (roughing the passer)
• Week 1: S Brandon Jones,  $11,255 (excessive face mask)
• Week 2: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (removing helmet on the field)
• Week 2: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (hit to defenseless player)
• Week 2: C Luke Wattenberg, $5,872 (blindside block)
• Week 5: FB Michael Burton, $7,653 (blindside block)
• Week 7: DL Malcolm Roach, $14,069 (obscene gesture)
• Week 7: CB Levi Wallace, $7,181 (hip drop tackle)
• Week 9: S Devon Key, $4,417 (excessive face mask)
• Week 11: CB Pat Surtain II, $11,255 (face mask)
• Week 13: Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, $12,668 (roughing the passer)
• Week 15: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $8,791 (obscene gesture)
• Week 15: S Brandon Jones, $11,255 (late hit)
• Week 15: S Brandon Jones, $16,883 (hip-drop tackle)
• Week 16: Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, $12,668 (horse-collar tackle)
• Week 16: DL Malcolm roach, $11,255 (taunting)
• Week 16: RB Blake Watson, $4,463 (impermissible use of the helmet)
• Week 17: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (impermissible use of the helmet)
• Wild card round: LB Justin Strnad, $7,250 (hip-drop tackle)
• Wild-card round: RB Javonte Wiliams, $45,020 (impermissible use of the helmet)

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