Ty

Warren

It may cost him his roster spot. Now 31, Warren has missed each of the last two seasons due to injury. Denver would like to cut his salary from $4 million to the $1-$1.5 million range. Fellow defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson recently accepted a pay cut of just over $1 million. Warren does have some leverage because the team is weak at the position, but they did draft Derek Wolfe No. 36 overall in April.

Warren is under contract for $4 million in 2012. The Broncos plan to aggressively improve their under-sized defense in both the draft and free agency, targeting defensive tackles and defensive backs as priorities.

There’s hope that Ty Warren (triceps surgery) will return, but the Broncos are also expected to add “another impact player or two” on the defensive interior. Coach John Fox wants to add more speed and athleticism up front to collapse the pocket. The Broncos will have to add talent at safety and cornerback as well.

Warren is currently due $4 million, but the Broncos are hoping he’ll play for $1-$1.5 million after missing each of the past two seasons with injury. It sounds like Warren is contemplating retirement, but he’d draw interest as a flier if released.

The Broncos had a standing offer of one year at $1 million to $1.5 million. Warren wanted to keep his $4 million scheduled salary, but it wasn’t guaranteed. He will now receive a $1.25 million base salary in addition to a guaranteed $250,000 bonus. Warren said his weight is currently at 310. He’s positioned to start at nose tackle this season.

As was unsigned franchise player K Matt Prater, LB D.J. Williams and second-round DT Derek Wolfe. Warren is refusing to take a pay-cut, while Williams was in court. Rules bar Wolfe from attending until his senior year of college is officially over. Prater is skipping all offseason activities as he angles for a long-term deal.

It appeared Warren would re-enter after being listed as questionable, but the injury-prone 10-year veteran stayed glued to the sideline. Warren was playing in his first game since 2009. If it wasn’t clear already, the Broncos can’t count on meaningful snaps from their 31-year-old run stuffer.

The Broncos have yet to decide if Warren will be placed on injured reserve, but it’s a likely bet. Warren missed all of 2011 with a torn right triceps, and was appearing in his first game since 2009 last evening. Warren is still only 31 years old, but it’s getting harder and harder to believe the 2003 first-round pick is going to revive his career.

This Warren’s third consecutive season ended on injured reserve, the latter two due to the same torn right triceps injury. Warren will turn 32 in February. It’s fair to wonder if this is the end of the line after he questioned whether it was worth playing this season at a reduced salary.

Considered a longshot to play this year after undergoing surgery in August, the Broncos decided to end Warren’s season after he hit a snag in his recovery. This will be the second consecutive season Warren has missed with injury, and it’s quite possible the 30-year-old former first-round pick has played his last NFL down.