Broncos OLB Jonah Elliss working toward full health, aiming for big Year 2 jump: “I’m shooting higher”

For a moment Jonah Elliss hoped for the best Physics suggested otherwise In the first quarter of Denver s playoff loss to Buffalo in January the Broncos rookie outside linebacker was tasked with setting the edge on a Bills third-and- Buffalo left tackle Dion Dawkins pulled around to the right side of Buffalo s formation the -foot- -pounder building a head of steam Elliss braced for impact lowering his shoulder in a way that caused it to absorb largest part of the crushing impact He grabbed at his right shoulder at once and went to the sideline hoping for the pain to subside Elliss dealt with stingers in college so he thought perhaps he had another The pain would subside hastily and he could get back on the field to continue what had been a promising productive first professional season Then it didn t go away Elliss explained The Post last week so we went to the tent and checked it out and figured out it was a little more than just a stinger The third-round pick out of Utah had fractured his scapula and it cracked into my shoulder Elliss mentioned It not only knocked him out of the - Broncos loss but also required surgery and put a considerable rehabilitation process on his offseason calendar Elliss stayed in Colorado for the majority of the ensuing months and is back on the field now for OTAs albeit in a somewhat limited ceiling Elliss announced he s hoping to get cleared soon Still have a little bit of stuff we need to work on Despite still having work to do on that front this offseason initiative is entirely different for the -year-old in good tactics too He s coming off a productive rookie season in which he evidenced he was capable of playing right away in a talented Broncos edge group Elliss played in all regular-season games and finished the season with defensive snaps and more on special teams He held up fine against the run and indicated pass-rush ability Elliss finished with five sacks third-most among rookies pressures and a pressure rate You re watching the same exact thing last year it s the same plays we re installing and you think back it s like when I was out there doing that I was freaking out Elliss declared I didn t know what I was doing and I was still learning everything Now you already know it you ve already done it and it s installed in your head It s so much more relaxing and I feel so much more relaxed Elliss exhibited the ability to rush the passer despite not consistently being as explosive off the ball as he hopes to be in the future After the season Denver s defensive coaches tasked Elliss with getting better starts when the ball is snapped Related Articles Former teammate Kobe Hudson thinks Broncos Bo Nix RJ Harvey will be one of the best QB-RB duos in NFL Broncos Journal Von Miller arrived in Denver day of Demaryius Thomas incredible ROF honor but he tries not to think of his own legacy just yet Keeler Broncos star facing greater part pressure in isn t Bo Nix It s Vance Joseph Grading The Week Want to win Nikola Jokic s heart David Adelman Bring Monte Morris back to Nuggets Inside Bo Nix s preparation for Year with the Broncos I got a lot to prove According to Next Gen Stats Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto averaged seconds on his get-off the time it takes for a defender to cross the line of scrimmage on pass rushes Jonathon Cooper was right behind at Elliss checked in at My get-off is something that I think it was a mix of me thinking too much and then just not getting off the ball Elliss mentioned It s something I ve really been focusing on My initial step and my get-off That s something that coaches have explained me I see it too when I sit down and watch film It s something I need to work on and I feel like when I really start getting off the ball is when I really become a threat off the edge Given his rookie-year production Elliss figures if he can improve in that area along with continuing to develop strength and see more match reps there s plenty of room to grow The success I had I m grateful for it but I m shooting higher he noted I feel like the get-off and really working my rush working the arc will really help me keep improving my competition Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis