ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos Pro Bowl outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has not practiced this week because he had a bone spur removed from his foot.
Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed Thursday Bonitto had surgery to remove a bone spur and that has what kept Bonitto out of the Broncos’ training camp practices over the last three days, including Thursday’s joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals.
“He had a little (bone) spur on the top of his foot,” Payton said. ” … His was something we just had done, we knew he was going to miss this week. He’ll be up and at it next week.”
There had been some brief speculation that Bonitto, a second-team All Pro selection last season, had not practiced this week because of potential issues in a contract negotiation. Bonitto, who was third in the league in sacks last season with 13.5, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
But Bonitto has practiced throughout the offseason, participated fully in training camp until this week and played in Saturday’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. In the 30-9 Broncos win, Bonitto played 12 snaps with the defense as he almost single-handedly upended one 49ers series that included a sack and one near sack.
Payton was asked Thursday if Bonitto’s absence in practice this week was strictly injury related. That’s when Payton said Bonitto had the surgery.
“He’s been fantastic,” Payton said of Bonitto’s approach. “The days he’s missed has been this simple bone spur in a unique spot on top of the foot … “It’s not weight bearing … I think three stitches. The goal would be to have back at practice and getting some work at New Orleans (in the preseason finale next week).”
Bonitto was the Broncos’ second-round pick in the 2022 draft (64th overall) and set career bests last season in tackles (48), sacks (13.5), quarterback hits (24) as he also returned an interception as well as a fumble for touchdowns.
Since the start of training camp the Broncos have signed wide receiver Courtland Sutton and defensive end Zach Allen to lucrative extensions and Payton has said Bonitto is also in discussions with the team on a new deal.
Also Thursday for the Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles left practice with what Payton said was an asthma attack and that tight end Nate Adkins has had a “tightrope procedure” to repair an ankle injury and would miss several weeks.
