ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — How about a little bit of love for the fullback?
In Sunday's win over the Raiders, Adam Prentice did a little bit of everything.
As the Broncos dominated the line of scrimmage and the time-of-possession battle, the fifth-year veteran delivered lead blocks for the Broncos' best rushing performance since Week 8 and kept the pocket clean for quarterback Bo Nix.
He also turned in an 18-yard run, which was his longest carry since he attended Clovis High School.
"You couldn't ask for a better hole than we got up front," Prentice said of the play. "[I] just took off. It was awesome."
Prentice, who signed with the team in August after Michael Burton suffered an injury, has seen his impact grow in recent weeks as Nate Adkins works back from an injury of his own. The Broncos' fullback has played at least 10 offensive snaps in each of the last six games, including a season-high 30 snaps in Denver's Week 14 win over the Raiders. Prentice has also been a key special teams contributor, playing more than 45 percent of the snaps in six of Denver's last eight games.
"When I got here initially, my mindset was obviously trying to make the team," Prentice said Monday. "I was just grateful to be here, especially having been at home the whole offseason. I knew [I was] coming here to fill the role that 'Burt' had left, which is a huge vacancy when he got hurt, unfortunately. [I was] just trying to come in and just do whatever was asked of me. I didn't really have a vision of how much or how little [I would play], just whatever they needed me for or wanted me to do, I just tried to do it to the best of my ability, and that's evolved as the weeks have gone on. I'm grateful for that, but regardless, [the goal is to] just execute at a high level whenever I get the opportunity and go have fun, keep winning games and keep helping this team win."
Head Coach Sean Payton credited Prentice's play after Sunday's win and noted he's done "a really good job" in Adkins' absence.
"The one thing about him is you know exactly what you're getting," Payton said. "You're never fooled."
On Sunday, the Broncos got a blocking performance that helped Bo Nix complete a season-high 81.6 percent of his passes while the team rushed for 152 yards. The rushing output represented the Broncos' third-highest total of the season.
"It's going to be huge," Prentice said of the Broncos finding success on the ground. "Any time you can control the clock and run the ball effectively, it's a huge bonus for you. Speaking of yesterday, it was a collective effort from receivers, tight ends to everybody up front. We've really taken charge and take a lot of pride in the run game."
In addition to his blocking ability, Prentice — who ranks third among fullbacks in Pro Bowl votes — has also contributed with key conversions. The 18-yard run converted a third-and-1 that set up a touchdown, and three of his four touches in the game resulted in first downs. A week before in Washington, both of Prentice's touches went for third-down conversions.
And while Prentice admitted he was "a little bummed" he couldn't break free for the first touchdown of his career, the Colorado State alum acknowledged how much he's enjoyed being back with the Broncos. The now-veteran player initially signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2021 before being claimed by Payton and the Saints. Four years later, Prentice is back in the fold and making a significant impact.
"Absolutely," said Prentice, when asked if being in Denver feels like a full-circle moment. "Especially being a CSU kid initially, and then starting here and then getting claimed by Coach Payton in New Orleans and now [being] back here in Denver with Coach Payton, it's kind of crazy. A lot of the guys I'm playing with here I knew from New Orleans that are now here and a lot of the staff that was here my rookie year are still here. … It's pretty cool in all aspects just to come back, [and it's my] home away from home having gone to school here. It's been awesome."
