An MRI revealed Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain has a pectoral strain, according to multiple sources.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is considered week-to-week, though he won’t play on Sunday against the Texans. He could land on injured reserve, which would keep him out for four weeks.
Surtain was injured on the Cowboys’ next-to-last play of the first half on a 7-yard reception by George Pickens. Surtain was seen working his shoulder after the play.
He did not return to the field with his teammates in the second half, and the Broncos initially listed him as questionable to return.
Surtain missed one play in the first half after injuring his lower leg.
His absence, for however long, will mean a bigger role for first-round pick Jahdae Barron, who has made one start and has played 24 percent of the defensive snaps.
The Browns claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers, the team announced on Monday.
The Texans recently released Bates.
In a corresponding move, the Browns waived cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
Bates is in his second NFL season out of Kentucky. He originally signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Bates has appeared in 10 games with the Jets, Browns and Texans. He played three games with Cleveland in 2024 and spent time on the club’s practice squad in 2025.
Bernard-Converse appeared in five games this season.
The Texans beat the 49ers 26-15, and it wasn’t that close.
Houston has won three of its past four games to improve to 3-4, while San Francisco fell to 5-3.
The Texans outgained the 49ers 475 to 223, had 31 more plays, 11 more first downs and won the time of possessions 41:22 to 18:38. The Texans did not punt until 4:13 remained.
The only reason it wasn’t worse was the Texans’ inability to score touchdowns as they went 1-for-5 in the red zone. Houston settled for chip-shot field goals of 33, 34, 37 and 30 yards by Ka’imi Fairbairn after stalling at the San Francisco 15, 16, 18 and 11.
C.J. Stroud threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Jayden Higgins and 30 yards to Xavier Hutchinson. Despite missing wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, Stroud completed 30 of 39 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and an interception that came on the final play of the half.
Hutchinson caught five passes for 69 yards, and rookie Woody Marks ran for 62 yards on 11 carries.
Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted Mac Jones in the end zone with 1:56 left to all but end any thought of a San Francisco comeback. The 49ers did get the ball back at midfield with 53 seconds left, but Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter combined for a 10-yard sack of Jones on first down.
Jones was 19-of-32 for 193 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle and a 2-yarder to Jake Tonges. Christian McCaffrey had eight carries for only 25 yards and three catches for 43 yards.
The 49ers lost three defensive players in the second half. Defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) was carted to the training room. His injury came after defensive lineman Jordan Elliot (ankle) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee) were ruled out.
The Texans couldn’t do anything offensively on Monday night against the Seahawks. They have had their way with the 49ers, who are without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
Houston has four drives of double-digit plays and has 57 plays for 393 yards so far today.
The Texans’ latest drive went for 94 yards in 12 plays, with C.J. Stroud hitting Xavier Hutchinson for a 30-yard touchdown. Houston leads 23-7.
It shouldn’t be that close, but the Texans are 1-for-4 in the red zone today.
Stroud is 27-of-35 for 317 yards with two touchdowns and an interception despite missing wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian McCaffrey. Hutchinson has five catches for 69 yards.
The 49ers have only 89 yards.
The Texans annihilated the 49ers in the first half.
It’s 16-7 at halftime but could be far worse, since the Texans went only 1-for-4 in the red zone. Rookie Jayden Higgins scored a touchdown on a 12-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud, but Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked chip-shot field goals of 33, 34 and 37 yards after drives stalled at the San Francisco 15, 16 and 18.
Houston scored on its first four possessions and outgained San Francisco 299 to 65.
Stroud is 22-of-28 for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception, which came on the final play of the half. It is his best game of the season despite being without wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian McCaffrey. Rookie Jaylin Noel has three catches for 55 yards.
The 49ers picked up their initial first down with only 39 seconds left in the half and scored a touchdown on third-and-10 at the Houston 17 with 25 seconds left. Brian Robinson set it up with a 46-yard kickoff return with another 15 yards tacked on for a facemask penalty on Dylan Horton.
George Kittle caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones, who is 5-of-11 for 44 yards. McCaffrey has only two carries for 8 yards.
The 49ers had only 14 plays and two first downs in the first half.
