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| D.J. Williams will have missed more than half the season by the time he is eligible to return. (Andrew Mason) |
The Broncos' hopes of having LB D.J. Williams back by the end of the month were dashed Friday when the league added three games to his six-game suspension.
Williams' additional punishment is a result of his August conviction on driving while ability-impaired -- a lesser charge compared to the DUI that he faced. But his conviction was his second since joining the league on an alcohol-related offense; he had a DUI on his ledger from an August 2005 incident.
The previous DUI placed Williams under the auspices of the league's substance-abuse policy. His six-game suspension came under the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Williams won't be eligible to return until Week 11, when the Broncos face San Diego.
Keith Brooking and Wesley Woodyard have split time filling in for Williams the last four games. Their split arrangement is expected to continue, with Brooking working when the Broncos are in their base 4-3, while Woodyard handles downs when they line up in a nickel or dime formation.
For up-to-the-minute Broncos updates, follow Andrew Mason on Twitter at @CBSBroncos and @MaseDenver.
