LONDON — Bradley Chubb knows there’s a possibility Sunday will be his final game as a Denver Bronco.
The outside linebacker is in the midst of perhaps his best season as a pro, but his contract is up at the end of the year, the Broncos enter Sunday’s game against Jacksonville at 2-5 and the NFL’s trade deadline arrives Tuesday.
He knows all of that, he’s just doing his best not to let it impact his week.
“Probably zero percent of it,” he told a small group of reporters after Denver’s practice Friday at Harrow School. “I’m focused on where I’ve got to be. I’m focused on where my feet are right now. God has me in this position for a reason and I just have to be the same person I am each and every day.”
Chubb said he’s open to the idea of staying in Denver long-term. The Broncos could keep him past the trade deadline and franchise tag him, extending their control for another year. Or they could sign him to a contract extension either ahead of the deadline or after the season.
“Yeah, man, 100%. I would love to be in Denver long-term,” he said. “I’ve got the house, every day I’m comfortable, I’m doing everything I need to be doing. At the end of the day, it’s between my agent and (general manager) George (Paton), whatever they decide to do. But like I said, I’m focused on winning these games.”
Chubb said he hadn’t considered what he would think about the chance to play for a team with a better chance of winning a championship this year.
“Not even thinking about that. I’m focused on these guys right here, the orange, white and blue,” Chubb said. “Making sure I do everything I can to be the best leader — I’ve got that ‘C’ on my chest for a reason. Captains don’t let stuff get to them, they don’t show, they don’t sweat under pressure.
“I’m trying to do the things I’ve been doing all season and itap been working out for me.”
Paton a day earlier called Chubb “a core player” for a Broncos defense that has been one of the best in the NFL over the first half of the season.
“You know how much we like Bradley,” Paton told reporters. “We want to keep all of our core players and he’s one of our core players.”
“I felt like I was,” Chubb said, apprised of those comments. “I feel like I’ve been here for five years now, doing the right thing every time, just trying to, like I said, be the best me I can every day. I’m just glad it gets noticed.”
Chubb has 5.5 sacks through seven games. He burst onto the scene as a rookie with 12 sacks in 2018, but then had just 8.5 in the ensuing three years, playing just four games in 2019 and seven in 2021 due to injuries.
“I like that I’ve just been the same guy, consistent every day,” he said. “I haven’t had too many up-and-down days where I’m mad one day, sad the next. I’ve just been the same guy and that’s been good for my mental (health), itap helped me be a leader for these guys. When I bring the energy myself, I feel like itap a better me overall.
“When I’ve got guys to feed off of when it comes to the outside linebacker group, the d-line group, the whole defense, the whole offense, itap easy for me to go out and do what I do.”
Chubb, 26, was the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft out of North Carolina State. He’s sure to draw interest from a number of contenders who could use pass-rush help.
“At the end of the day itap kind of cool. It lets you know I’m playing good ball and other teams are noticing as well,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I’m focused on what I’ve got in front of me, me and my teammates. I know y’all see the energy we’ve got and we’re focused on doing the right things to win this game.”
