ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Defensive end Antonio Smith will participate in the Denver Broncos’ training camp after tending to a personal matter that kept him away from the team’s offseason workouts this summer.

The Broncos’ brass and Smith decided it was best for him to stay away from the team after reports surfaced in late May that prosecutors in Texas were investigating a criminal sexual complaint against Smith.

Smith never was arrested nor were any charges filed in the case.

In a statement Tuesday, coach Gary Kubiak said: “We’ve been in communication with Antonio and the league for the last couple of months. Based on those discussions, it’s appropriate for Antonio to be here and compete with the rest of the team as we begin training camp.”

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe will miss the first month of the season after being suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.

Wolfe said in a statement he took medicine this offseason that he didn’t realize was prohibited by the NFL. He apologized to the Broncos and their fans.

Wolfe played in every game last year, contributing to a Denver defensive line that allowed 79.8 rushing yards per game, the lowest single-season figure in team history.

He was a shell of himself, however, after missing a good chunk of the 2013 season, which was marked by a seizure on the team bus. Doctors believe that was related to a bruised spinal cord he suffered that preseason.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has signed a five-year $70 million contract with the Denver Broncos just before the deadline for NFL players who had franchise tags to sign long-term deals.

The contract is the biggest in franchise history, and includes $43.5 million guaranteed. Of that, $35 million is guaranteed over the first two seasons.

Had the sides not hammered out a deal Wednesday, Thomas would have played this season on the $12.823 million franchise tag, which still would have been about as much as he’d made in his first five seasons combined.

The three-time Pro Bowler is coming off his best season.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Demaryius Thomas received some good news Monday and it had nothing to do with his contract stalemate with the Denver Broncos: his mother is getting out of prison early.

President Barack Obama cut the prison sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders, and one of them was Katina Smith, who has been incarcerated in Georgia since 2000.

She and her mother, Minnie Pearl Thomas, were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 1999 when Thomas was 11 years old.

Smith was scheduled to be released in 2017. Now, she’ll be released on Nov. 10.

Smith had declined to testify against her mother in exchange for a reduced sentence. Her mother received a life sentence as a multiple offender.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — As expected, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and defensive end Antonio Smith were absent from Denver’s mandatory minicamp Tuesday.

Thomas is boycotting the Broncos’ offseason program after the team placed its $12.8 million franchise tag on him. He’s not subject to a fine because he hasn’t signed his tender. He has said he’ll attend training camp with or without a long-term deal.

Smith was absent from minicamp while prosecutors in Texas investigate a criminal complaint against him.

In addition to missing his top receiver, Peyton Manning also was without Ryan Clady, the reliable left tackle who protected his blind side. Clady tore his left ACL two weeks ago and is done for the season. Rookie Ty Sambrailo gets the first chance to win the job.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Bowlen, the 29-year-old son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, has been placed on indefinite leave from the team following his arrest on domestic violence charges.

The younger Bowlen was arrested Wednesday night in Glendale, Colorado, on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment after allegedly pushing his girlfriend up against a bathroom wall, police said.

“We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen,” the Broncos said in a statement, adding, “While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization.”

Bowlen is a candidate to take over the team from his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Pat Bowlen relinquished his duties almost a year ago.

Team president and CEO Joe Ellis said last month that the transfer of ownership to one of Bowlen’s seven children was still a ways off.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Shane Ray, Denver’s first-round draft pick, has signed his rookie contract, worth approximately $9 million over four years. It includes a signing bonus of nearly $5 million.

Ray practiced with the Broncos for the first time Monday, taking part in on-field individual drills for the first time since sustaining a turf toe injury five months ago.

A linebacker from Missouri, Ray was considered a top-15 pick in the draft but slipped to No. 23 after being cited for marijuana possession that week.

Tight end Jeff Heuerman, a third-round pick from Ohio State, is the only unsigned member of the Broncos’ draft class. He’s recovering from an operation to repair a torn left ACL, which he suffered at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp.

 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have signed veteran offensive lineman Ryan Harris a day after losing perennial Pro Bowler Ryan Clady to a torn knee ligament.

Harris was set to join the Broncos at practice Friday, the final day of this week’s on-field work.

Harris, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Denver, started 15 games last season for Kansas City. Before that, he spent two years in Houston with current Broncos coach Gary Kubiak.

Clady tore his left ACL in a pass-blocking drill Wednesday, but the severity of the injury wasn’t realized until he was tested Thursday.

With Clady’s injury, quarterback Peyton Manning will have four new starting linemen protecting him this season. The only returning starter is right guard Louis Vasquez.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady has torn his left ACL and will likely miss the season, leaving Denver to search for someone to protect Peyton Manning’s blind side.

The injury happened Wednesday during offseason training activities. This isn’t the first time Clady has blown out his left knee: He hurt it in a pickup basketball game in April 2010, only to return and still start every game that season.

Clady also injured his left foot in the second week of 2013 and missed the rest of the season, not long after signing a five-year, $52.5 million contract.

He returned last season and started every game as he made his fourth Pro Bowl squad.

With Clady sidelined, the Broncos may slide over Chris Clark, who filled in for Clady in 2013.

 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Defensive end Antonio Smith is absent from the Denver Broncos’ organized team activities while prosecutors in Texas investigate a criminal sexual complaint against him.

Smith met with general manager John Elway, team president and CEO Joe Ellis and coach Gary Kubiak and they all agreed it was best for Smith to skip the voluntary workouts that began Wednesday.

Smith, 33, has not been arrested and no charges have been filed in the case. Sheriff Troy Nehls of Fort Bend County near Houston said a complaint was made against Smith in November and it was “sexual in nature.” His department’s findings were forwarded to prosecutors in February.

District Attorney John Healey last week said the investigation was ongoing and stressed the “complaint at this point is an allegation only.”