Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced Wednesday morning.
The suspension will be the final four games of this year and the first two games of 2021. Bouye is eligible to participate in a team’s offseason program and preseason games in 2021.
Bouye’s suspension is the latest blow to an already-depleted Broncos cornerback corps. Bryce Callahan (foot) is on injured reserve for at least two more games and rookie nickel back Essang Bassey sustained a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss at Kansas City. The available cornerbacks on the roster for this Sunday’s game at Carolina are Michael Ojemudia, DeVante Bausby, Duke Dawson and Kevin Toliver.
Safeties Alijah Holder and Will Parks could also be called upon to play corner in certain personnel packages.
Bouye is the second Broncos player currently facing a suspension, as running back Melvin Gordon is likely to be suspended for three games at some point due to a drunk driving arrest in September.
Acquired from Jacksonville in the offseason for a fourth-round pick, Bouye has 23 tackles and no interceptions in seven games this year. Even before the suspension, it was becoming possible that Bouye would be a one-and-done player for the Broncos. His salary cap hit is $13.375 million and he has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract.
