Adam Gotsis, Broncos DE
The skinny: During the offseason, Gotsis packed on pounds and prepared for an expanded role on the Broncos’ defensive line. It was his first summer as an NFL player in which he was fully healthy since he recovered from a knee injury suffered in his senior year of college. Against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, as injuries mounted on the defensive line, Gotsis played 31 snaps (53 percent of the defense) and finished fourth on the team with five total tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he saw 11 run plays and had four run stops for a run-stop percentage of .364, which was the best among interior defenders in the NFL.
The background: Gotsis became the highest-drafted Australian-born player in NFL history when the Broncos selected him in the second round in 2016. A former Aussie Rules Football player, Gotsis moved to the United States from Melbourne, Australia, when he was a teen and was recruited by Georgia Tech. Gotsis played 48 games (37 starts) and totaled 110 tackles, 12½ sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks in his college career.
His take: “We’ve got a great room this year, and I think everyone really wants to play for the guy next to him,” Gotsis said of the Broncos’ defensive line. “It’s an unselfish room. It doesn’t matter who’s in there to make the play. As long as we can stop them, that’s the defensive goal, and I think, again, we’re taking pride in stopping the run.”
Their take: “You can see his quickness. You can see his length inside,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “I think Gotsis is coming along. If he stays healthy, he’s what he should be for us. He can be a starter for us. He can rush the passer and play the run game.”