ENFIELD, U.K. — Nik Bonitto started his week abroad with some hardware.
The Broncos outside linebacker was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 5 after racking up 2.5 sacks against Philadelphia in a 21-17 win Sunday.
Bonitto is leading the NFL in sacks (seven) and pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
The fourth-year pass-rusher’s performance against Philadelphia also made him just the fourth Broncos player in team history to log multiple sacks in three straight games and the first to do so since Von Miller in 2014.
“He’s awesome in every sense of the word,” fellow outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said Wednesday. “I mean, I think he’s the best pass rusher in the NFL.”
Bonitto’s certainly playing like it so far.
After going without a sack in Week 2 at Indianapolis, Bonitto logged two in Week 3 at the Los Angeles Chargers, 1.5 at home against Cincinnati and then 2.5 on Sunday against the Eagles.
Sunday tied his best sack total in a single game. Bonitto, though, is off to easily the best start of his career.
He finished his third season with 13.5, so he’s more than halfway there through five games this fall.
Bonitto is the first Denver player to win defensive player of the week this season, the first since ILB Cody Barton in Week 7 last year and the first outside linebacker since Miller in 2018.
