ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos expect defensive end Antonio Smith to report for training camp Thursday with the rest of the team's veteran players, given Smith has yet to be notified of any charges in Texas regarding a child-abuse allegation.
Smith did not attend the team's offseason program after a criminal allegation came to light in May that a Fort Bend County (Texas) Sheriff had publicly described as "sexual in nature.'' Smith was not arrested and has not, to this point, been charged.
Broncos officials privately said Tuesday night Smith has told the team the matter is still being reviewed by prosecutors in Texas, but that he has not been formally charged.
A complaint was made against Smith in November. and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said the team did not know of the complaint when the Broncos signed Smith to a one-year, $2 million deal in April.
The Broncos' decision-makers have been in contact with the NFL several times in recent weeks about the best of course of action for the team and Smith from a football perspective with training camp set to open. Kubiak told the team's website Tuesday it was "appropriate'' for Smith to report Thursday with the rest of the team's veteran players.
Kubiak, team president and CEO Joe Ellis and executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway all conferred with each other, as well as Smith, in recent days, and the decision was made to allow Smith to report.
Smith played for the Houston Texans for three seasons when Kubiak was the team's head coach. Kubiak said during the Broncos' offseason workouts the team's "understanding'' was originally that a decision on whether Smith would be charged could be made by June.
District Attorney John Healey released a statement in May that an investigation was "ongoing," and that the "complaint is at this point an allegation only." Healy issued a public statement Tuesday that Smith's case was still under review.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls has said a complaint was made against Smith in November, when he was still with the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders released him in March, shortly before he was signed by the Broncos. After its investigation, the sheriff's office forwarded its findings to the county district attorney's office in February.
Smith, 33, has played for Kubiak, Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and Broncos defensive line coach Bill Kollar when all were with the Texans.
On the field, with the uncertainty still surrounding Smith, the Broncos will have some questions to answer in the defensive line in the coming workouts. Defensive end Derek Wolfe, a second-round pick in 2012, has been suspended for the first four games of the season for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Wolfe can participate in training camp and preseason games, but because of the suspension to open the season, he might get less work with the starting defense than he normally would have received, given the team has to look at other options for the season's first month.