Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson has withdrawn from playing in the Pro Bowl next month because of surgery on his right thumb, the team said.
Wilson will be replaced by Baltimore middle linebacker Ray Lewis. Wilson had the surgery recently and is expected to be ready for the Broncos’ minicamps. Wilson broke his right thumb Oct. 22 at Cleveland and played the rest of the season with the injury. This is the second consecutive offseason Wilson has needed surgery to repair the thumb.
“I’ll have a hard time hitchhiking later in life,” Wilson jokingly said near the end of the season.
Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl along with Denver cornerback Champ Bailey and safety John Lynch. Bailey and Lynch still are scheduled to play in the Feb. 10 game in Honolulu.
Braxton agrees to plea
Tyrone Braxton, a former Broncos defensive back, agreed to a plea deal Wednesday in a case in which he was charged with drug possession and patronizing a prostitute last month. He pleaded guilty to possession of a gram or less of cocaine and an ounce or less of marijuana. He received a deferred judgment for two years on the cocaine charge and will pay a fine for the pot possession. The prostitution charge was dropped.
Braxton, 41, had a small amount of cocaine and marijuana on him when he was searched by police Dec. 2 in the 14000 block of East Princeton Place, according to police. Authorities said he paid 21-year-old Audrey Linda Rose Evans $600 for sex.
Braxton held a news conference after his arrest and admitted he had a drug problem but denied the prostitution charge.
Draft update
The Broncos aren’t expected to receive any compensatory draft picks this year. The picks are awarded based on the loss of unrestricted free agents the season before.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas contributed to this report.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
