Bonitto on Moss: He’s not afraid to get his nose in there when it comes to tackling. I like the way he plays.
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss reacts after his interception during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
It didn’t have Riley Moss.
In the 12 games Moss was the Broncos’ starting cornerback opposite star Pat Surtain II, Denver allowed just 16.8 points per game. In the three games he missed because of an MCL strain in his right knee, the Moss-less Broncos allowed 26.3 points per game.
Moss returned to practice last week and will start Saturday in the Broncos’ pivotal game Saturday in Cincinnati against the high-powered, pass-happy Bengals.
He has a big impact on our team, said Broncos’ top pass rusher Nik Bonitto while seated at his locker following practice Thursday. He’s a really good corner. He does a lot of things for us. I’m pretty sure everybody’s happy to have him back.
He’s obviously been working his butt off to get back on the field so I’m excited for him, especially this week, knowing the opponent were facing, Surtain said. It’s good to have him back and I know he’s been missing it.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about having Moss back, skipping his usual don’t-talk-injuries gamesmanship to reveal: He’ll be ready to go.
There are two significant traits Moss brings to the Denver defense aside from his obvious cover skills. One, he’s a good man-to-man cover corner. In Moss’ absence, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph played more zone, which in turn meant fewer blitzes and less pressure on the quarterback.
Two, Moss has the type of hyper, aggressive playing style that is fun to watch and permeates through the rest of the unit.
One-hundred percent, Bonitto said. He’s not afraid to get his nose in there when it comes to tackling. Obviously, we know what he can do covering and getting his hands on balls. I like the way he plays.
That’s just him in general, Surtain said. He has like a hyper attitude. He has it. He gets it. He has an infectious energy. That’s something we’ve missed from him so it’s good to have him back out there.
He’s got an awfully competitive juice, Payton said. I would say you definitely felt his absence. Not just physically as a player, but also his presence.
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