Report: Defensive end Derek Wolfe likely heading to be placed on the season-ending IR list

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe has been told by renowned spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins that he needs a couple months of rest to recover from a neck injury he suffered earlier this year.

This means that Wolfe is likely heading to the season-ending injured reserve list. A tough break for one of the Broncos best defensive players and vocal leaders on defense. However, with the Broncos playing for nothing but pride in these final weeks it makes sense to sit Wolfe to avoid further injury.

Wolfe confirmed the news with 9NEWS via a phone call.

“As much as I’d like to get back out there and keep playing, when a spinal doctor tells you that you can lose use of your right arm if you don’t rest and heal properly, you listen. I don’t want to lose the use of my right arm. I’m happy because he said I wouldn’t need surgery which would have meant all kinds of crazy things. But he said there’s no way you should play football the next two months.’’

The Broncos made Wolfe inactive for this past Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins due to this injury. The IR ruling seemed like a likely one earlier in the week after Wolfe told reporters he lost feeling in his face after suffering this injury.

“There’s not like one real answer to give right now because we need to run some more tests to really figure out what’s causing the numbness,” Wolfe said. “A stinger is a stinger, but when your face is going numb and then your quad is going numb, that’s when you have to make sure. Whenever the MRIs and everything, that’s all clear, that’s when you have to go check the nerves and find out what’s going on with the nerves and then you can reverse it.”

While Wolfe doesn’t require surgery on his neck, one has to wonder how much longer he can continue his NFL career? He has now suffered multiple neck/spine injuries throughout his career, so one has to start being concerned for his well being after football.

All we can do is hope for a quick and speedy recovery for Derek Wolfe and hope to see him back on the field healthy and well in 2018.