Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto fell behind in the NFL’s season-long sack race when he totaled zero sacks in a 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football last week.
Going into Week 16, Bonitto (11.5 sacks) was just one sack shy of the NFL’s leader (Trey Hendrickson had 12.5). Bonitto than went sackless on Thursday and Hendrickson recorded another sack on Sunday, improving his total to 13.5.
Bonitto is now tied for fourth both in the NFL and in the AFC, trailing Hendrickson, Danielle Hunter (12.0) and Myles Garrett (12.0), tied with T.J. Watt (11.5). Bonitto has two weeks remaining to attempt to jump to No. 1.
NFL sack leaders going into Week 17
- Trey Hendrickson: 13.5
- Danielle Hunter: 12.0
- Myles Garrett: 12.0
- T.J. Watt: 11.5
- Nik Bonitto: 11.5
- Andrew Van Ginkel: 11.0
- Jonathan Greenard: 11.0
- Kyle Van Noy: 10.5
- Will Anderson: 10.5
- Will McDonald: 10.0
Meanwhile, fellow Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper is tied for 17th in the NFL with eight sacks. Cooper is a half-sack away from tying his career high and two sacks away from the first double-digit sack season of his career.
Bonitto and Hendrickson will go head-to-head when the Bengals host the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
