Franchise quarterback Bo Nix was right in the middle of an absolute wild Broncos practice this Tuesday, sparking what Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports called their “first real fight of training camp” with linebacker Nik Bonitto. This kind of intensity isn’t something to just brush off, especially given Nix’s crucial role for that team.
The “Dog Days” Brawl That Left a Teammate Bleeding
The whole thing kicked off when Nix, upset after being sacked and taken to the ground, grabbed Bonitto’s leg and pulled him off the pile. Bonitto needed multiple teammates to hold him back. Offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton was looked at by trainers after he was left bleeding from the fight. Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post described it as the “most heated I’ve seen in the Sean Payton era.” Training camp fights are a common “rite of passage” in the NFL, but having the starting QB in the thick of it changes the vibe. Nix, though, seemed to love the chaos. “I love it,” he told reporters. “It’s football. … The game’s coming up, and it’s a physical practice out there played by physical people. It got intense and we were just really enjoying it. Sometimes in the dog days of summer, practice gets long and the intensity gets high.” He made it clear he was a fan of the heated practice.
Why This Is a Serious Red Flag for Denver
Sure, the guy says he loves intensity, but seeing your franchise quarterback in scuffles that leave teammates bleeding is a huge red flag. Denver simply cannot afford an injury to Nix. Remember last season’s AFC Championship Game? Nix went down, Jarrett Stidham took over against the New England Patriots, and the offense completely flatlined, putting up a “mere seven points” in an “ugly offensive performance.” Even with Denver’s dominant defense holding New England to just 10 points, they “could have made the Super Bowl had they managed even another field goal in regulation.” That’s how close they were, hinging on the QB position. Nix, who threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, is the key. Keeping him healthy is “one of the most important things of the entire training camp” for the Broncos. It’ll be “easier to do that if he isn’t involved in any more scuffles and fights” before the season officially kicks off.
The Broncos open their regular season on September 14 against their rival Kansas City Chiefs. The stakes are already high, not just for that game, but for keeping their most important player on the field and out of the trainer’s room. Let’s see if Nix can channel that “love” for intensity into crushing opponents, not teammates.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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