Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto has improved as a run defender, leading to increased success in his pass-rushing abilities due to increased strength.

The Denver Broncos have a lot to celebrate as they head into their game against the Raiders on Sunday. Third-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto is on the verge of achieving a major milestone, as he only needs one sack to become the first Bronco to record double-digit sacks in a single season since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb did it in 2018. With nine sacks under his belt, Bonitto is currently tied for second place in the league.

According to head coach Sean Payton, one of the reasons for Bonitto's impressive numbers this season is the increase in his playing time. In the past, he was primarily used on third-down situations to create pressure. However, due to his growth as a run defender, Bonitto has been given more opportunities to attack the quarterback.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph also praised Bonitto's improvement as a run defender, stating that he has developed the strength and mindset to be an edge setter. In fact, statistics from the NFL's Next Gen Stats show that the Broncos have significantly improved their run defense when Bonitto is on the field, giving up only 3.8 yards per rush compared to 5.7 when he is on the sideline. Bonitto has also recorded 18 run tackles this season.

But Bonitto's improvement is not limited to just stopping the run – he has also been impressive in the pass rush. With 35 pressures and a pressure rate of 15.4%, he ranks 12th in the league among players with at least 200 pass rushes, according to Next Gen Stats.

Joseph attributes Bonitto's success to the fact that he is now playing with the lead more often, giving him more opportunities to showcase his skills. He believes that Bonitto has improved in all phases of his game and has become a valuable asset to the team.

Meanwhile, Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix is also receiving recognition for his outstanding performance. Nix has been named the NFL's Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive time, following his impressive 307-yard and four-touchdown game against the Falcons. He is the first Bronco since Tim Tebow in 2010 to earn multiple Rookie of the Week honors in the same season, and the first since Knowshon Moreno in 2009 to receive the award in back-to-back weeks.

In other news, starting left guard Ben Powers returned to practice after sitting out on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. He was limited in practice, while wide receiver Josh Reynolds, linebacker Drew Sanders, and safeties P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones participated fully. Jones, who missed last week's game, could potentially play on Sunday.

However, practice squad wide receiver A.T. Perry did not participate in Thursday's practice. For more updates on the Broncos, be sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider to stay up to date on all NFL analysis.

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