Broncos parting ways with T.J. Ward

Denver saves about $3.25 million by cutting Ward, who was owed $4.5 million this season.

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T.J. Ward was cut by the Broncos on Saturday. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)

T.J. Ward was cut by the Broncos on Saturday. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)

The Denver Broncos have released veteran safety T.J. Ward, multiple reports indicated Saturday.

NFL teams must pare their rosters down to 53 players by 2 p.m. today. Ward, a three-time Pro Bowler and key member of what’s been the NFL’s best secondary the last two years, was a casualty.

Denver saves about $3.25 million by cutting Ward, who was owed $4.5 million this season. Parting ways with him leaves a void at safety that two second-year players, Justin Simmons and Will Parks, must fill.

All week, Broncos players made cases why Denver should keep Ward, 30, around. Linebacker Brandon Marshall tweeted Thursday, “Letting TJ go would be a mistake.”

Minutes after the news broke Saturday, Marshall tweeted this:

It will be interesting to see how this goes over in the Broncos locker room.

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