The Denver Broncos have several lingering questions from the 2025 season, and some of them have gained more clarity. Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto certainly qualifies, and the pass-rushing playmaker was the one to shed light on his situation. Bonitto backed up his breakout 2024 season with a strong 2025 campaign.
Bonitto’s accomplishments from this past season look even better in light of his latest revelation as the offseason approaches.
The Broncos are into their offseason planning, following their loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and Bonitto is making use of the much-needed downtime. “Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto just posted a photo of him in the hospital on his IG story,” Mile High Sports’ Rachel Strand posted on X on February 5, along with the picture. “No word yet as to what happened.” Bonitto captioned the photo, “cooked.”
This follows the pass rusher’s comments after the season ended as Broncos players cleaned out their lockers. “It was just some things I was going through with my body,’’ the Broncos star said, per 9News’ Mike Klis in comments published on February 2. “They were just trying to save me for passing situations.” Bonitto noted the Broncos’ plan did not come to fruition. His injury was a lingering issue, though.
“Bonitto played all season long with a heavily taped club on the wrist,” Mile High Sports’ Cody Roark posted. “Had a clean up procedure per source. Should be good for offseason program.” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans corroborated, reporting, “After originally injuring his wrist in the Broncos’ Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts — self-inflicted, slamming the ground after the Colts’ walk-off win — Bonitto played the rest of the season with a large club on his right hand.
“Sources said the procedure was simply a clean-up, and not serious.” Bonitto is signed through 2029 on a four-year, $106 million contract, so the 2024 Second Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.
Bonitto spoke candidly about failing to earn First Team All-Pro honors this past season, despite the Broncos star tallying one half-sack more than he did in 2024. Of course, Bonitto did not have the takeaways that he finished with in 2024, which was likely a significant factor.
However, Bonitto also finished fourth among the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, which went to Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett in a unanimous decision. Still, that Bonitto earned a spot among the finalists and was not an All-Pro is interesting.
“I knew I should’ve been one of those guys,” Bonitto said, per Evans. “But at the end of the day, I wasn’t. And that’s just kinda gonna push me harder to be that, and not make it even close to where they can keep me out again. So, just have a lot of offseason work that’ll go into it.”
Falling short of DPOY does not make up for Bonitto missing out on his first career First Team All-Pro selection, but it does validate the Broncos linebacker’s sentiments.
