The chance of Wes Welker returning to the Denver Broncos offense Sunday against Kansas City was eliminated Saturday afternoon. Though the league and players union is close to finalizing a new drug policy, nothing could be completed in time for current players to have their suspensions reduced in time for Sunday’s games.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press file photo

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The chance of Wes Welker returning to the Denver Broncos offense Sunday against Kansas City was eliminated Saturday afternoon. Though the league and players union is close to finalizing a new drug policy, nothing could be completed in time for current players to have their suspensions reduced in time for Sunday’s games.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press file photo

The NFL Players Association had hoped the league’s revised drug policy would be finalized on Saturday in time for a handful of suspended players to be rejoin their team’s active rosters.

It didn’t happen.

Despite a unanimous vote from 32 NFL player representatives Friday evening on a term sheet of the comprehensive new drug policy, the process stalled when the policy was returned to the NFL and union’s lawyers.

“We’re still working on it,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told USA TODAY Sports in an email Saturday afternoon.

That leaves players like Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick and Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan still on their teams’ suspended lists. Players must be on an active roster by 2 p.m. Saturday to be eligible to play.

Whenever the new policy, which will include Human Growth Hormone testing, higher marijuana thresholds, increased penalties for drunk driving and neutral arbitration for appeals, is finalized, the NFLPA will have a full list of players who will receive “adjusted discipline,” the union said in statement Saturday.

The new policy will be retroactive to March 11, 2014, the first day of the NFL year.

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