Nik Bonitto's Hot Start Puts Him in Company of Legendary Broncos Names
Denver Broncos rush linebacker Nik Bonitto is off to a very hot start to the 2025 season. Five weeks in, the Pro Bowler has already amassed seven sacks.
In the Broncos' stunning come-from-behind upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday,
The Broncos prevailed 21-17. Bonitto's 2.5 sacks carved out a nice piece of Broncos historical real estate.
Multiple Sacks in Three Straight Games
Bonitto became just the fourth Bronco, and the first since Von Miller in 2014, to record multiple sacks in three straight games. Bonitto's seven sacks are the second-most by any Bronco through five games in a season.
Elvis Dumervil holds the record for the most sacks through five games, with eight registered in 2009. He would finish with 17 quarterback takedowns, garnering the NFL's sack crown and breaking the franchise record previously held by Simon Fletcher (16).
Miller would eclipse Dumervil's single-season franchise record, recording 18.5 sacks in 2012. That season ended up being Dumervil's last as a Bronco.
Of the top-10 sack seasons in Broncos history, Miller owns four of the slots, while Fletcher holds three. Bonitto put up 13.5 sacks in his breakout 2024 campaign, which ranks as the sixth-most in team history.
Bonitto's Path to Stardom
A 2022 second-round pick out of Oklahoma, Bonitto had a bit of a slow start, but he showed improvement in each year of his career before breaking out last season. On the heels of garnering Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, the Broncos extended Bonitto with a four-year, $106 million deal in early September.
Earning $26.5 million per year, Bonitto is the 10th-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL. Considering his red-hot start to the 2025 season, he might actually be underpaid.
Micah Parsons' $46.5M/year contract with the Green Bay Packers makes him the NFL's highest-paid edge rusher. Parsons has just 2.5 sacks thus far.
Bonitto's Defensive Player of the Year odds have skyrocketed in tandem with his production. He's considered among the four frontrunners, including Parsons, Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson, and Cleveland's Myles Garrett.
Bonitto has drawn some stiff left-tackle matchups this season, but has come out on top. He's faced Joe Alt in Los Angeles and Philadelphia's All-Pro Jordan Mailata just last week.
Indianapolis' Bernhard Raimann is the only opponent to shut Bonitto out this season, in Week 2. But Denver's pass-rushing ace quickly made up for it by stockpiling six sacks over the ensuing three games.
Even a Special Talent Needs Help
The Broncos have something special in Bonitto, that much is now crystal-clear. He is complemented by a ferocious front seven that includes fellow All-Pro Zach Allen on the inside and Jonathon Cooper opposite him at outside linebacker. Cooper has the same number of sacks as Parsons.
Last year, the Broncos led the NFL in sacks, with 63. Vance Joseph's unit is on pace to shatter that franchise record, as the Broncos are still leading the NFL in sacks with 21 this season. The Detroit Lions are the next-closest team with 16.
Bonitto is making all the difference. What's even more impressive is that he's played with a wrist injury for most of the season, and had a procedure to correct a bone spur in his foot during training camp.
Chargers sign former Colts RB after Omarion Hampton injury
The Chargers signed veteran RB Nyheim Hines after Omarion Hampton’s injury landed the rookie on injured reserve.
The Los Angeles Chargers are making another move to bolster their backfield depth after losing promising rookie running back Omarion Hampton to injury. Hampton, who had quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s most productive first-year players, will be placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, as confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh said RB Omarion Hampton will be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him a minimum of four games due to his ankle injury,” Schefter reported.
Hampton, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had rushed 66 times for 314 yards and two touchdowns while adding 136 receiving yards through five games.
His 4.8 yards per carry led all Chargers players besides the quarterbacks. The setback means Los Angeles will rely on Najee Harris and second-year back Kimani Vidal to shoulder the rushing workload while Hampton recovers.
To help stabilize the depth chart, the Chargers are bringing in a familiar face. According to Kris Rhim, “The Chargers are signing Nyheim Hines to the practice squad after working him out today. He was with the Chargers during training camp. With the position thin, Hines has a chance to play this week.”
Hines, 28, last appeared in an NFL game during the 2022 season, playing for both the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. He missed all of 2023 after suffering injuries in a jet ski accident and was later released by the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.
Despite the hiatus, Hines offers versatility as both a dynamic pass catcher and a proven special teams returner.
Over his five-year career, Hines has compiled 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, plus 240 receptions for 1,778 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He’s also returned four kickoffs for scores, showcasing the type of explosiveness the Chargers’ offense could use.
This move is a full-circle moment for Hines, who spent his early career in Indianapolis and now rejoins a head coach in Jim Harbaugh, known for reviving veterans.
With the Chargers sitting at 3-2 and looking to stay competitive in the AFC West, depth and reliability in the backfield are vital, especially with Hampton sidelined through at least early November.
The timing makes sense. Los Angeles is thin at running back and faces a stretch of tough defensive opponents, including the Titans and Chiefs. If Hines proves he’s back to form, he could see meaningful snaps sooner rather than later.
