ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday that linebacker DeMarcus Ware is expected to have surgery on Friday to repair a ruptured disk in his back and that the hope is the surgery would enable Ware to play in 2017 if he wanted to.
The Broncos formally ended Ware's season on Wednesday when they moved him to injured reserve.
“It’s been tough,’’ Kubiak said. “I can’t speak for him and how he was feeling, but I know he wasn’t feeling like himself and was battling this year, had some issues going on ... and then to do an MRI and find out he has a ruptured disk.’’
Ware played 25 snaps in the Broncos’ 33-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night.
“He’s had a rough year,’’ Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “ ... I don’t know if he ruptured it earlier. He was stiff the whole season.’’
The move to injured reserve could mark the end of a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career for Ware, who will turn 35 in July. He has wrestled with back troubles for much of his career, including five missed games in 2015 and an infection in his back that affected him throughout this past offseason.
Ware is also in the last year of a three-year deal he signed with the Broncos in 2014. But both Kubiak and Phillips said Thursday they believe, if this latest surgery is successful, Ware would like to return in 2017.
“One thing about him, he takes great care of himself. He’s in amazing shape for his age so he’s got good football left in him, and his attitude is really good,’’ Kubiak said. “ ... Obviously this organization loves DeMarcus and what he’s done.’’
When Phillips was asked if he believed Ware would want to play next season, Phillips said: “I think so, yeah. I think he does. I wish I had his body. ... So does my wife. He’s still physically a presence ... so you hope he comes back.’’
Ware, a team captain, did take a pay cut this past offseason to return to the team and at that time the Broncos had outlined a plan to make him more a pass-rush specialist who would play in longer down-and-distance situations.
Ware played in 10 games this season for Denver and missed five games with afractured forearm he suffered in the Broncos’ Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Since he returned from that injury he has had just two sacks in the last eight games.
He had two sacks in two games when he suffered the fracture. His four sacks and nine tackles this season are both career lows.
“He’s amazing, he really is. Everybody looks up to him,’’ Kubiak said. “His career speaks for itself. He’s such a class act.’’
