This past Friday, the NFL announced that Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe had been suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. Wolfe claims the drug he took does not enhance on-field performance, but since it’s on the banned substance list, the proper protocols must be followed and the correct punishments must be dished out.

Even though Wolfe’s numbers may not show it, his ability to stop the run up front is among the best in the league and one which will be dearly missed, especially since the team will be taking on four talented runners in the four weeks he is banned.

Not to mention, the already-thin Denver defensive line gets just a bit thinner.

Be that as it may, there should be no cause for concern as the uber-talented Broncos defense can easily make up for his loss.

Of course, the collective effort starts on the defensive line. Vance Walker is the leading candidate to replace Wolfe and much is still left to be seen of him as he only started two games last season. While playing for the Kansas City Chiefs last year, Walker was their prized free-agent acquisition, but quickly disappeared into nothing due to his inability to supplant the guys in front of him. Walker has the pass-rushing skills to play defensive end — it will just come down to whether he can put himself in a position to use those skills.

Flanking Walker will be the underrated Malik Jackson. An adept 4-3 defensive end, Jackson will be switching to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ trademark 3-4 scheme. He is a far better pass rusher than Wolfe, but will need to improve his run-stuffing ability in order to pick up the slack. If Jackson can prove that he has a firm grasp of Phillips’ attack, as well as improve against the run, he may actually outperform his left side counterpart and more than account for his loss on his own.

The defensive line play will be at the center of replacing Wolfe and will require them to play as a unit to counterbalance his loss.

Still, the Broncos are stacked everywhere else on the field should the line be unable to fully replace Wolfe. They have five talented linebackers at their disposal, all of which are more than capable of stopping the run and disrupting opposing offenses. Safety T.J. Ward will also have to be more in tune with the rush and provide a little extra help in stopping opposing ground games.

Depth is essential in the NFL and the loss of a player of Wolfe’s caliber demonstrates that. However, football is a team game and, for the four weeks Wolfe is gone, the Broncos’ defense will demonstrate that as well.

Mike Carlson is Denver Broncos Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @deejayactual, add him to your network on Google, or “Like” him on Facebook.