What we learned at Broncos camp today: Nik Bonitto's breakout led Denver to a defensive win

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Training camp is over. It ended on a high note for the Broncos’ defense.

The Broncos dominated the Dallas Cowboys in a joint practice at UCHealth Training Center on the 14th and final day of training camp. The teams will play Saturday night at Empower Field in their first game of the preseason.

The story on the defensive field was what happened after the whistle.

Six different scuffles broke out. Malik Reed body-slammed an offensive lineman. Bradley Chubb took his helmet off and yelled with another Cowboy. Mike Purcell ran up to a Cowboy who was watching a fight, pulled his helmet off his head and threw it 15 yards.

The grit stood out.

But so did the exceptional play.

Who won the day: The Broncos’ front seven

Denver dominate defensive day started up front and rookie outside linebacker Nik Bonitto Led the way.

“We’re not gonna let nobody come in here (and beat us),” Bonitto said after practice. “We want to come in and set the tone right from the jump. I feel like that’s what we did.”

After a modest first 13 days of camp, Bonitto was responsible for four sacks on Thursday, including two against the starting Dallas offense.

“The bend, bro,” Pro Bowl outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said after practice. “Nik is one of the best rookies in this class. I’m excited to see what he does, man. I’m excited to continue to work with him in all those different packages we’re going to have with all of us on the field, man. It’s gonna be fun.”

Chubb was another one of the day’s standouts. He pressured quarterback Dak Prescott several times, including on a ball in redzone drills that should have been intercepted by Justin Simmons. He also provided a couple of loud tackles for loss, including the biggest hit of the day.

Bradley Chubb was not about to let Zeke get through 😳🔥 #hitstick @astronaut

(via @billym_91) pic.twitter.com/KcsOmQPQXj

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 11, 2022

The Cowboys got next to nothing going in the running game and any number of front-seven defenders made contributions to that effort. The passing game was a little different story, though.

Prescott was able to work the underneath game with Ceedee Lamb and Noah Brown doing the bulk of the damage. The Broncos didn’t have cornerbacks Ronald Darby or K’Waun Williams as they continue to recover from injuries and their replacements weren’t quite up to the task.

Essang Bassey played out of the slot and was beaten up, especially on slant routes. His big play was a third-down breakup.

Michael Ojemudia filled in outside and took the bulk of his reps against Ceedee Lamb. Lamb carved him up on comebacks, digs, outs and just about everything else. The low point in practice was a two-minute drill drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown to Lamb on a post past Ojemudia.

Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb for the touchdown against the Broncos defense. pic.twitter.com/PRWaWRCOnv

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 11, 2022

Still, the Broncos’ defense was the story of the day.

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Nik Bonitto – The story of the day was Nik Bonitto. He was everywhere, especially on impactful downs. Four sacks. Two against the starters.

Mike Purcell – Chubb’s hit on Ezekiel Elliott wouldn’t have happened in a real game, because nose tackle Mike Purcell hit Elliott first. And this wasn’t the only time he exploded into the backfield and blew up one of Elliott’s runs. Earlier in the practice he grabbed Elliott and held him up in the backfield while he tried to get away.

Kareem Jackson – The 34-year-old safety made third-down breakups on back-to-back plays (which is a sentence you can’t type anytime but practice).

Damarri Mathis – The rookie has been solid throughout camp but has heated up in the last week. On Thursday he made a leaping pass breakup over the back pylon in red zone work. He’s everywhere.

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Michael Ojemudia – Ojemudia has struggled throughout camp and that continued on Thursday. Matching up against Ceedee Lamb is tough, though.

Essang Bassey – Like Ojemudia, Bassey has been thrust into the starting lineup by injury and has struggled. Every error is magnified in a top-notch defense, though.

Injury report

• Melvin Gordon has a foot contusion and did not practice for a second-straight day.
• Greg Dulcich had a “little bit” of a setback, according to Hackett.
• K.J. Hamler did not have a setback, despite not practicing this week. The team is just being smart with bringing him back. “He’s farther along that we ever though,” Hackett said.
• Courtland Sutton, D.J. Jones and Eyima Uwazurike returned to practice.

Existing injuries

• Ronald Darby has a chest contusion and is listed as day-to-day.
• K.J. Hamler, K’Waun Williams and Greg Dulcich did not practice.
• Randy Gregory, Billy Turner and Tom Compton on the PUP.
• Both Tim Patrick and Damarea Crockett have been placed on the injured reserve after tearing their ACLs.
• Tyrie Cleveland missed practice after suffering a cartilage injury in his throat in the second week of camp.