Nik Bonitto is a man of many talents.
The Broncos’ outside linebacker pulled a double this week.
The Denver chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association of America voted Bonitto as both the team’s Darrent Williams Good Guy award winner and the Demaryius Thomas Team MVP award. He is the first player to earn both awards from reporters who cover the team regularly.
“Knowing the two guys before me that (have their names) on the awards in Demaryius and Darrent and being such high-character guys in the locker room and in Denver,” Bonitto said, acknowledging how much the awards mean to him. “They held such a high standard, and I’m trying to live to that standard every day.”
Bonitto has seen his sack production slow some in recent weeks, but he has 12.5 on the season, and is one off his career best, set last year. He’s generated 72 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, and his 19.4% pressure rate is third-best in the NFL among players with at least 200 pass rushes.
Bonitto’s not just pressuring quarterbacks, he’s doing it fast. His 10.8% “quick pressure” (pressure generated in 2.5 seconds or less) is the best mark in the NFL and the best mark posted since Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons in 2023.
Bonitto, though, lauded the fact that 17 different Broncos defensive players have at least a half-sack this season.
“I think that’s the most underrated part of when we’re rushing the passer, or with some of these blitzes we’ve called, is that we have so many unselfish guys,” Bonitto said. “The D-tackles are willing to drop in coverage. Outside linebackers can drop in coverage. Not only drop but do their job at a great level.
“… Just guys rushing the right way. I feel like it goes a long way. I think that’s why we see the numbers where they are and everybody being able to get a piece of the cake.”
Several players garnered consideration for both awards. Bonitto said he was surprised he got them and had a list of candidates at the ready, including Courtland Sutton, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper, and others who would have been worthy.
“It’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve been around,” Bonitto said. “Obviously, it’s easy on the field when we can love and play for each other the way we do defensively. When we can hang out the way we do, have so many good guys in the locker room that actually care for one another and are always there, I feel like it’s a special thing. There aren’t that many locker rooms like that around the league. I’m blessed to be a part of this, for sure.”
Cooper (2024) and right tackle Mike McGlinchey (2023) are the most recent “Good Guy” winners, while All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II had been the team’s MVP each of the past three seasons.
JFM questionable. Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers is questionable to play Sunday against the Chargers due to a hip injury. He’s been a limited participant in practice all week.
Franklin-Myers played just 11 snaps Christmas Night against Kansas City in part because of that hip issue, sources told The Post, though he was not on the injury report before that game.
Inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, as expected, was ruled out after not practicing at all this week. He’s battling a hamstring injury.
The Broncos opted against activating rookie inside linebacker Karene Reid from injured reserve. He’ll need to be activated by Tuesday or his 21-day window will close, and he will revert to IR for the rest of the season.
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Broncos-Chargers: Can Bo Nix, Sean Payton beat LA’s zone coverage to earn AFC’s No. 1 seed? Position coach Isaac Shewmaker is the young mind behind Broncos’ edge-rusher success Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto playing with club, elbow brace, finger tape: ‘It’s been a long season’ One offensive concern for Broncos as playoffs approach: Too many drops Sean Payton’s instructions for playoff atmosphere: ‘No shell games on the scoreboard’One goal: One seed. Sunday’s game might lack some juice since the Chargers will be playing without quarterback Justin Herbert and likely several other starters.
The Broncos, though, insist their focus is right where it needs to be: On playing well and capturing the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
“It hasn’t been done since we won the Super Bowl here,” Bonitto said. “So we’ll be talked about in rare air here, but it really is special. It shows the hard work we’ve put in and just the continued growth that I feel like, since Coach (Sean) Payton got here, that we’ve just kept building toward every year.
“That first year just barely missing the playoffs to last year making it. And now having higher goals this year. Continuously trying to take those steps to get better and I feel like it’s all paying off right now.”
Added Payton: “These guys are smart enough, they understand the importance of the game.”
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