DENVER BRONCOS

Nik Bonitto leaves Broncos game with knee injury

Dec 10, 2023, 3:10 PM | Updated: 3:10 pm

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a knee injury.

Bonitto, who leads the Broncos in sacks with 7, suffered the injury late in the first quarter. He slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration before heading to the blue medical tent for a sideline examination.

Immediately after that evaluation, team medical personnel summoned a cart for Nik Bonitto. He walked a few steps before moving into the passenger seat for the ride back to the Broncos locker room.

The injury to Nik Bonitto came in the midst of a first quarter that saw the Broncos defense do everything right in the first quarter. The defense forced a fourth-down stop in the red zone, then pressured Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert into an interception on the subsequent series, as Baron Browning deflected a pass that Jonathon Cooper picked off. That play set up a Javonte Williams touchdown run one play later.

With Nik Bonitto injured, rookie Drew Sanders was poised to see more playing time. Sanders, drafted as an inside linebacker, has seen more work as a rotational edge rusher in recent weeks.

Bonitto logged 5.5 sacks in the Broncos’ first five games; he has 1.5 sacks in the seven games since then. Bonitto’s playing time has dropped since Browning returned to the lineup after beginning the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

 

Denver Broncos

Shedeur Sanders attends the quarterfinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup between the New York Knicks a...

Jake Shapiro

Shedeur Sanders not focused on going No. 1, has other ideas

Shedeur Sanders might be the best quarterback in his class but the odds of him going first in the NFL Draft have been slipping since the college football season ended

5 hours ago

Ashton Jeanty Broncos draft...

Will Petersen

Another ESPN mock draft has Broncos landing Ashton Jeanty

Like his colleague Mel Kiper Jr. did last month, ESPN's Field Yates thinks Ashton Jeanty could fall to the Broncos at No. 20 overall

7 hours ago

Maxx Crosby Russell Wilson...

Andrew Mason

NFL insider: ‘It’s possible’ Russell Wilson could be back in the AFC West

Russell Wilson, back in the AFC West? Longtime NFL insider Mike Sando of The Athletic says this could be in the cards, pointing to a possible reunion with new Raiders coach Pete Carroll.

10 hours ago

Sean Payton Andy Reid Broncos Bills Chiefs...

Will Petersen

Broncos’ goal should now be winning the AFC West in 2025

The Broncos winning the division was never realistic in the middle of a K.C. dynasty, but that's coming to a close, and Denver's window is just opening

16 hours ago

Bo Nix...

Andrew Mason

Is Bo Nix already pushing toward one of the top two QB tiers? One prominent national analyst says yes

Is Bo Nix approaching the second tier of NFL quarterbacks? One prominent national analyst, Fox Sports and NFL Network's Peter Schrager, says he is.

1 day ago

Jonathon Cooper...

Jake Shapiro

Broncos could open season in Philly against Super Bowl champs

The Philadelphia Eagles are slated to host eight games in the fall of 2025 which means the Denver Broncos could be playing in the league's first game of the year

1 day ago

Nik Bonitto leaves Broncos game with knee injury