NFL indefinitely suspends Eyioma Uwazurike for gambling

HIGHLIGHTS: Fourth-round pick Eyioma Uwazurike

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended indefinitely due to an NFL policy violation, the league announced on Monday. It means the 25-year-old will be banned from playing for at least the 2023 season.

According to the announcement, Uwazurike bet on NFL games during the 2022 season. The league has a strict gambling policy prohibiting all league personnel, including players, from gambling at any team facility, league facility or venue. Violating this policy results in disciplinary action.

The Detroit native has to wait until at least July 24, 2024, to apply for reinstatement to the league. Even then, there is no guarantee he will be rejoining the Broncos.

“We were informed by the NFL [on Monday] that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” said the team. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.”

Uwazurike, a fourth-round draft pick of the Broncos in 2022, was entering his second season with the team. In his rookie season, he played in eight games with 165 snaps on defense and 17 tackles. On Tuesday, he was due to report to training camp in Englewood, Colorado.

A series of no-gambling policy violations

Uwazurike is the latest addition to the list of players suspended due to violating the no-gambling policy. This year alone, the NFL has suspended ten players.

Earlier this year, the league suspended five players — four from Detroit Lions and one from Washington Commanders. Tennessee Titans tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was suspended for six regular-season games in the 2023 season.

Last month, Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts and free agent Demetrius Taylor received suspensions that will last at least until the end of the 2023 season.

Calvin Ridley, a then-wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, was suspended for the entire season for violating the NFL’s gambling policy in 2022. He was reinstated in March 2023 but was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year.

The NFL is taking steps to reinforce its gambling policy for players. All rookies must attend mandatory education sessions. A group of league officials will make in-person visits to team facilities to inform what activities are prohibited.