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The Broncos have broken up the ‘‘No Fly Zone,’’ releasing three-time Pro Bowl strong safety T.J. Ward with a year left on his contract.

General manager John Elway said cutting the eighth-year pro was a difficult decision ‘‘after everything he’s done for our football team.’’

‘‘He was a respected teammate whose attitude and physical mindset played a big part in our success, especially during our Super Bowl run,’’ Elway said. ‘‘We thank T.J. for his contributions as a Bronco and wish him nothing but the best in his future.’’

Ward set a nasty tone for Denver’s defense as a founding member of the ‘‘No Fly Zone’’ secondary that includes Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Darian Stewart, and Bradley Roby.

Ward was due $4.5 million this year in the final season of his four-year, $22.5 million contract he signed in 2014. The Broncos will eat about $1.3 million in dead money from his prorated signing bonus.

But this decision wasn’t about money or cap space. It was about looking toward the future.

Second-year safety Justin Simmons, formerly of Boston College, has stood out in place of Ward, who missed most of training camp and all of the preseason with a torn hamstring. The Broncos also are high on second-year safety Will Parks and undrafted rookie Jamal Carter of Miami.

Osweiler to Denver

Brock Osweiler is returning to Denver as the Broncos’ backup quarterback. The team agreed to terms with Peyton Manning’s former apprentice on a one-year deal after he was cut by the Browns.

Provided he passes his physical Monday, Osweiler will serve as Trevor Siemian’s understudy in his second stint in Denver. The Broncos needed another quarterback because Paxton Lynch, their 2016 first-round draft pick, will miss a month or more with a sprained throwing shoulder.

Osweiler went 5-2 in relief of an injured Manning during the Broncos’ Super Bowl season two years ago before bolting to Houston in free agency. The Texans traded him in March to the Browns, who will pay Osweiler his $16 million guaranteed salary this season minus the offset from the Broncos. The minimum for a sixth-year pro is $775,000.

Flacco practices

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco returned to practice, joining his teammates on the field for the first time since being sidelined with a back injury in July. Flacco missed all of training camp, but coach John Harbaugh said the veteran will start the opener Sept. 10 at Cincinnati. Also practicing were receiver Breshad Perriman and running back Danny Woodhead, both of whom missed several weeks with hamstring injuries. Baltimore traded an undisclosed draft pick to Jacksonville in exchange for guard/center Luke Bowanko. Bowanko played in 25 games, with 14 starts at center in 2014, in three years with the Jaguars . . . A person familiar with the negotiations told the AP that suspended safety T.J. McDonald has agreed to a $24 million, four-year extension with the Dolphins. The person confirmed the deal on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins have not announced it. McDonald will miss the first half of the season while serving an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy following his arrest last year on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Browns add Coates

The Steelers traded wide receiver Sammie Coates to the Browns, where the 2015 third-round pick will get a chance to revive his career. Pittsburgh also sent a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft to Cleveland in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2018. Coates caught 22 passes for 446 yards and two touchdowns across two seasons in Pittsburgh . . . Former UMass standout Tajae Sharpe was placed on injured reserve by the Titans after the second-year receiver re-injured his right foot in the team’s preseason finale. Sharpe, who had 42 receptions as a rookie, had surgery on his right foot this offseason and recently returned to practice . . . The Jets released their longest-tenured player, long snapper Tanner Purdum, who played in 112 consecutive games over seven seasons. According to the team, Purdum was never charged with an errant snap or penalty during his time with New York . . . The 49ers cut Jeremy Kerley, their leading receiver from 2016. Kerley, 28, had 64 catches for 664 yards last season and then signed a three-year $8.4 million deal in the offseason to stay in San Francisco . . . The Chargers waived kicker Josh Lambo, giving the job to undrafted free agent Younghoe Koo . . . The Giants are also going with an unproven kicker as Aldrick Rosas won the job over veteran Mike Nugent. New York also placed veteran linebacker and former BC star Mark Herzlich (neck) on injured reserve, named Geno Smith the No. 2 quarterback, and acquired cornerback Ross Cockrell from Pittsburgh for a conditional draft pick in 2018.

Jaguars just say no

Jaguars executive vice president Tom Coughlin said the team isn’t interested in signing free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick. ‘‘We did the study, the research, and we weren’t interested,’’ Coughlin said. Asked to explain the reasons, Coughlin added, ‘‘I'm not explaining it.’’ Jaguars owner Shad Khan said last week he would be open to signing Kaepernick if the front office wanted to do it . . . The Panthers cut three-time All-Pro punter Andy Lee and third-string quarterback/special teams player Joe Webb. Carolina kept punter Michael Palardy, who filled in last season when Lee was on IR. The Panthers kept two kickers in Graham Gano and rookie Harrison Butker, though they are actively attempting to trade Gano . . . The Bengals released offensive tackle Eric Winston — the NFL players’ union president — and defensive end Wallace Gilberry. Winston was a backup entering his 11th season . . . The Chiefs released veteran C.J. Spiller, leaving rookie Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West as the only running backs on their roster. Kansas City also traded offensive lineman Isaiah Battle to Seattle for a conditional 2018 draft pick and placed former Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali (knee) on the physically unable to perform list . . . The Cowboys released quarterback Kellen Moore, completing undrafted rookie Cooper Rush’s surprising rise to the backup job behind Dak Prescott. Dallas sent an undisclosed 2019 draft pick to Cincinnati for cornerback Bene Benwikere.

Martin will sit 3 games

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is headed to the reserve/suspended list. He will sit out the first three weeks while serving the remainder of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs . . . The Bills traded cornerback Kevon Seymour to the Panthers for kick return specialist Kaelin Clay and a seventh-round pick in 2019.