Safety doesn’t quite define all that T.J. Ward does for the Broncos. He’s one of the NFL’s best run stopping players at his position. He’s a solid cover man against tight ends and running backs. And increasingly he’s become a menace for opposing quarterbacks with his pass rush.

After his huge game Sunday in a 27-19 victory over San Diego, Ward joked that he’s fine with a position name change if it comes with a few more dollars. No matter the position, he’s playing the best football of his career at age 29.

“I’m just a smarter player. I’m at the peak of my career. I’m just playing really well,” Ward said. “It’s funny because early in the season I didn’t think so. When you try to force things, it’ll backfire. I didn’t feel like I was making enough splash plays. But it happens like that. I stayed patient, and it’s all coming now.”

The splash plays are coming in bunches. Against the Chargers he had a sack, an interception, two quarterback hits and a pass breakup. He also led the team with 10 tackles. His bone-chilling hits and celebrations afterward are a huge source of energy for the Broncos defense.

“Like a Tasmanian Devil, that’s what I call him. I call him Taz,” cornerback Chris Harris said. “He’s acting crazy on the field, so sometimes I have to calm him down a little bit. That’s the type of fire we need.”

Safety Darian Stewart, who also had an interception, had a similar description: “Dog, relentless, and just an aggressive player.”

Ward’s versatility allows the Broncos to place him in any area of need. Often times Sunday it was rushing the passer while rookie safety Will Parks dropped into coverage.

“The thing T.J. has done, that nobody understands, he really had to change his role. When we lost (safety Justin) Simmons, we had some things going on,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “T.J. is a guy that had to play a lot of different spots. You ask certain guys to do special things and he is a special player. T.J. is a big leader. I’m really proud of him.”

Ward had the last of the Broncos’ three interceptions on a miscommunication between Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and receiver Griff Whalen. Ward then unleashed a spin move on Whalen that made him reenact his running backs day before going out-of-bounds at the Chargers’ 7-yard line.

The big difference in the game was the Broncos defensive backs catching the ball on their interception opportunities and the Chargers defensive backs, for the most part, dropping their chances. San Diego had one interception but missed several other chances to pick off a pass.

Ward’s willingness to be a veteran teacher for Parks and fellow rookie safety Simmons has paid divendends. Simmons had his first career sack Sunday and Parks played a big role in the goal line stand that saved the game.

“He’s been more than a mentor. He’s been like a big brother to me,” Parks said. “It’s not even just on the field, it’s off the field, too. He’s always inviting me places, putting me around the right people when he don’t really got to. That relationship is huge.”

Ward hopes there are many more splash plays to come.

“When I come home I say, everybody eats. And everybody ate today,” Ward said. “When you have three interceptions, one for a touchdown, it’s hard to lose.”