Broncos Q&A Stewart stoked to help Denver defense shine

The focus was more on the names leaving Denver than the ones arriving. Julius Thomas. Orlando Franklin. Terrance Knighton. Rahim Moore.

The Broncos’ Class of 2015 free agents had cachet, and prices to match. But one arrival proved to be the most significant offseason move for the Broncos.

Darian Stewart, a safety who played for Gary Kubiak with Baltimore in 2014, signed with the Broncos last March at a bargain rate of $4.25 million over two years.

“I feel like I’m going to be the final piece to the puzzle,” Stewart told The Denver Post then. “The secondary they have there is one of the tops in the league and adding myself, I think we can get it done out there.”

Stewart, who considered playing basketball at Memphis before his mother encouraged him to pursue football, fulfilled his promise.

A recent hamstring injury kept him out of the Broncos’ last meeting with the Steelers, Dec. 20 in Pittsburgh. But he doesn’t expect to sit out the next one: The Broncos host the Steelers in an AFC playoff game Sunday. In fact, he hopes to pick up right where he left off against the Steelers.

Last January, Stewart produced one of his finest performances in the Ravens’ playoff victory at Pittsburgh, where he prevented an Antonio Brown touchdown, intercepted a pass by Ben Roethlisberger and recovered a fumble.

As he prepared for Sunday’s game, Stewart spoke to The Denver Post about the playoffs, the Broncos’ defense and more. everything, week in and week out. He’s a (heck) of a coach. It’s just an honor to play for a guy like that. He just lets you be you and allows you to just go play. doing stuff outside of work. Just getting to know each other, just getting to know your teammates off the field and just building that bond. It’s great. You don’t get that on a lot of teams. It’s definitely important. for a while, so I don’t really pay it any attention. It is what it is. People are going to have their opinions. Q: Extra fuel? A: No, we just keep doing what we’ve been doing. That’s what got us here. We have the No. 1 defense in the league. We just keep working. Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or @NickiJhabvala

Darian Stewart, breaking up a pass intended for Chargers tight end Antonio Gates on Jan. 3, says playing for Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is “an honor.” Joe Amon, The Denver Post

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