ENGLEWOOD — On the field, Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has become a two-time Pro Bowl selection and last season was fourth in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Now he’s looking to take an increased role in the locker room.

In talking about Bonitto after Tuesday’s training camp practice at Broncos Park, Denver coach Sean Payton said he’s “taken on a little bit more of a leadership role” this season.

“Yes, I’m just trying to be more vocal,’’ Bonitto said. “I’m not really like a rah-rah type of guy, but just kind of giving the guys coaching points and just stuff I see from the outside when they’re in the game, stuff like that. I’m just kind of leading by example in a way.”

Bonitto is entering his fifth NFL season. He has 27.5 sacks the past two years, including a career-high 14 in 2025.

Like Bonitto, Broncos star guard Quinn Meinerz was not known for being vocal prior to being named a team captain in 2025, his fifth season. Meinerz talked about the challenge he faced last season and touched upon it again Tuesday when asked about Bonitto becoming more of a leader.

“The first thing is, you don’t want to force it,” Meinerz said. “I think I was kind of trying to force my moments too much and that was giving me my own anxiety, even though people weren’t looking for that. So when the moments arise, if you get asked to break the team down, if you have a couple words you want to say, say it. If not, keep it short and simple. There are plenty of people that aren’t captains, per se, that don’t have the ‘C’ on their chest that are leaders of this team.”

Meinerz likes how Bonitto is approaching having taken more of a leadership role.

“I think Nik is just kind of letting it happen, and I think he’s taking advantage of his moments when he has them,’’ Meinerz said.

Penner hosts Monfort at Broncos Park

Broncos owner Greg Penner welcomed new business partner Dick Monfort to Broncos Park on Tuesday, giving him a tour of the new training facility.

In April, the Penner Sports Group purchased a roughly 40% minority stake in the Colorado Rockies for an estimated $670 million. But Penner said Tuesday there is no plan at this time to buy any more of the team.

“Right now, we’re just focused on being supportive minority partners,’’ Penner said. “(The) Monforts are in full control, and we’re going to do what we can to support them.”

Penner said he and his wife, fellow Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner, have known Monfort since buying the Broncos in 2022 and have had breakfast with him two or three times a year.

“I think they were ready to bring on a partner, and we couldn’t be more excited about doing something here in the Denver market,’’ Greg Penner said of buying into the team. “(We) have grown up baseball fans as well and, as you know, it’s a terrific fan base, ballpark, and we’re really pleased to join the ownership group there.”

While the Rockies are heading for their eighth straight losing season, Greg Penner’s Broncos have developed into a Super Bowl contender. He is fired up about the upcoming season.

“I’m excited,’’ he said. “I feel like each season we come in, and we’re more prepared and a better roster and a more complete coaching staff and all the pieces are there since the first season. That’s how I feel about it now. We can’t wait to get out there. We have all the pieces, and we have the right culture. Again, we’re providing the right resources. You always need a little bit of luck, and you just have to go out and perform.”

Dobbins limited in practice return

Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins returned to practice Tuesday but only did individual drills.

Dobbins left midway through Monday’s workout with what Payton then called a “soft-tissue” injury, but the coach has expected him to be “fine.”

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who left practice Aug. 5 with what Payton called “muscle tightness,” missed his fifth straight practice. Waddle worked out on a very busy side field that also included wide receivers Marvin Mims Jr. and Michael Bandy, center Luke Wattenberg, tight end Nate Adkins and outside linebacker Dasan McCullough.

Center-guard Alex Forsyth also didn’t practice. With Michael Dieter carted off the field midway through the workout with an injury, that meant Denver’s top three centers were not practicing. That left Calvin Throckmorton to snap with the first team and rookie Gavin Ortega with the second team.

Movie night for Broncos

Payton gave his players time off for training camp last week to attend “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

“It was just an evening event that was over and back,’’ Payton said. “Our players all went. All good. I’m not a big ‘Spider-Man’ fan, so I stayed back.”

Payton mentioned the movie night to some former players last weekend and he said they “accused me of getting soft” as he gets older as a coach.

“It’s not like we changed a practice or anything,’’ Payton said. “We just had a diversion, if you will. It was good.”

Bonitto sure thought it was.

“I was happy but surprised at the same time,’’ Bonitto said. “Sean had never done anything like that. He’s starting to take a liking to us for sure. … We had a good time.”

Briefly

Asked about a player who has stood out on offense in the first two weeks of training camp, Bonitto didn’t hesitate in naming wide receiver Pat Bryant. “He’s a guy who literally can do everything on the field when it comes to blocking. You see he’s making amazing play after amazing play every day he’s out there. … He’s going to be a player for sure.” … Payton reiterated that he prefers NFL games being played on grass to artificial turf. “I think, by and large, most (players) would like to play on grass,’’ Payton said. “I think playing on a natural surface is obviously more appealing.” … Payton, who coached quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with New Orleans from 2018-19, sent him a text upon his retirement this week. “He was a great asset, a really, really good teammate,’’ Payton said of Bridgewater, who played with the Broncos in 2021. “He had some rare leadership skills.”