The Denver Broncos know they can get more from linebacker Que Robinson, who is making his move in training camp.
The Denver Broncos defense looked fiercer than ever, and the Broncos will be trying to get back to the team’s “standards” that helped produce that ability to shut down opponents. One player they’re counting on to step up is former Alabama linebacker Que Robinson, who will be looking to build on the big sack he had of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye back in the AFC Championship game back in January.
Robinson got 23 snaps against the Green Bay Packers, so he has to make them count. When he went up against reserve tackle Brant Banks, he used a move that felt like a “step forward,” according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post.
“Shoot, man, I’ve been giving our offensive tackles hell all of camp,” Robinson said after the game. “So it feels pretty good to go against somebody else and work a move that I’ve been practicing for I don’t know how long.
“It felt pretty good. It probably would have felt better if we’d have won.”
Robinson played in just 370 snaps during his four years at Alabama, primarily because he was backing up first-round picks Will Anderson and Dallas Turner, and the Broncos feel like he could be the steal of the fourth round.
“There were certain traits you saw on film,” head coach Sean Payton said earlier in training camp. “He’s a real good technician and he’s one of those guys that we know has been coached hard. We felt coming into this defense from what he was playing in, there were some similarities to what we were going to ask him to do. I think that’s a help.”
GM George Paton has said that Robinson might have the most upside of any defensive player selected by the Broncos in the 2025 draft, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has said he needs to play more, too.
Nik Bonitto is among the players who see the potential for more production given what Robinson brings to the table.
“Que is obviously a very talented guy. He’s showing out every day in practice,” outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said back before the Atlanta game. Atlanta. “He has all the tools and whenever he sets his mind to it, nobody can block him. He’s been playing really well right now and I’m excited especially to see these next couple of games what he does out there.
“I know he’s going to put on a show for sure.”
Robinson agrees, although he’s still working on his run defense and down-to-down consistency, per Gabriel.
“I’m able to play fast and go, man,” He said. “The guys in my room and, shoot, really, the team believes in me. They’ve got high hopes for me. I’ve just got to try to prove them right and put all my energy out there on the field for everybody. …
“I don’t want to go out there half-stepping or getting in my own head. Or being like, ‘oh, my pinky hurts, poor me’ and stuff like that.”
That’s what makes his preseason opportunities so important, and he feels an obligation to his teammates given the belief they have in him.
“You’ve got to make it count,” he said. “This is a great defense. You’ve got Nik and Coop and Jonah and all those guys out there giving it their all.
“When I get my opportunities, I feel like I’d be doing them a disservice if I don’t do the same.”
