Broncos defensive lineman Clinton McDonald knows how to rush the quarterback. His 18 sacks over the last five years for Seattle and Tampa Bay are evidence.

“That’s been his greatest strength in his career,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said after practice Tuesday.

But in McDonald’s preseason debut last week against Chicago, it was his play against the run that excited Joseph most.

“That’s been part of his game that wasn’t good in Tampa, but has been really good here,” Joseph said. “I’ve been really impressed with how he’s played for us.”

McDonald, 6-foot-2, 297 pounds, has a quick first step which allows him to beat guards and centers and provide the Broncos with an improved interior pass rush. But if he can hold up against the run while giving away pounds, the defensive line rotation becomes even deeper.

Against the Bears, eight Broncos defensive linemen played at least 14 snaps. All could be active Week 1 against Seattle.

McDonald played 22 snaps and had one tackle and one sack. On his sack, he lined up at end — although inside the left tackle — and engaged with the left guard before looping outside and beating the left tackle to the edge to corral Chase Daniel in 3.19 seconds.

“He’s a very strong, very serious player; a true pro,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said. “He’s going to provide excellent depth for us.”

McDonald was signed March 21 and re-constructed his contract after the Broncos’ offseason program started because of a shoulder injury. His first time in a Broncos helmet was the opening practice of training camp on July 28. It was presumed he ran into trouble when he wasn’t present for the afternoon walk-through Aug. 7 because of an injury to the same shoulder. He missed the preseason opener against Minnesota.

But since returning Aug. 13, McDonald has been a regular participant.

“I knew the (injury) was cosmetic,” he said. “I know my body pretty well and they were being cautious, which is good because they didn’t want me to have something that would linger on. I understood that and I respected that. But as a player, you just want to play ball.”

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“It’s physical, playing an up-front position and hitting on every play,” McDonald said. “You know what you’re getting yourself into.”

A veteran of 97 games (36 starts), McDonald did not have a sack in his first three NFL seasons. But then came years of 5 1/2, five, none, 3 1/2 and five sacks for the Seahawks and Buccaneers.

The third preseason game is traditionally the final tune-up for most of the two-deep roster. But McDonald points to practices this week as just as important.

“Without practice, you can’t understand the game and what’s going on,” he said. “The practices and the game connect and work together and allows you to get the rhythm of what’s going on as well as (learning) what the style of play the guys next to you have.”