Pat

Surtain

It sounds like this is overall good news for the Broncos, but their defense will take a major short-term hit without one of the best corners in the league. The Broncos, who also lost Riley Moss to a rib injury against the 49ers, will probably have to change some things up next week against the Chargers.

According to Rapoport, there are no longer any concerns that this is an Achilles injury for Surtain, who left Week 4’s game against the 49ers with a non-contact injury. Surtain could be looking at a multi-week absence and will undergo an MRI soon to confirm the severity of his injury, but it sounds like he avoided anything too serious. In addition to Surtain, the Broncos are also evaluating the status of CB Riley Moss, who is dealing with a rib injury.

Surtain went down with a lower leg injury late in the second half and needed help getting to the Denver locker room. It was a non-contact injury. The Broncos also lost starting corner Riley Moss. Extended absences for Moss and Surtain would make the Broncos vulnerable to most opposing passing attacks, including the Chargers in Week 5.

Surtain went down with a non-contact injury late in the second quarter and needed help getting the the Denver locker room. He was seen grabbing at his calf and foot area. Hopefully for the Broncos this injury is not a worst-case scenario for one of the NFL’s best cover corners. Brock Purdy and the Niners should have an easier time moving the ball if Surtain is sidelined for the remainder of this game.

He gets a $5 million raise this year and has a chance to make $5 million more next year if he makes the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. The “good player pay bump” is getting more and more common in NFL circles. Surtain has been on one of the two All-Pro teams in three of his first five seasons in the NFL, so there’s a good shot he makes it again this year if he stays healthy.

Surtain takes the field on game day for the first time since Week 8. He will likely take on WR Terry McLaurin (quad), who is also making his return from a multi-game absence, when McLaurin lines up on the perimeter. It should be a good matchup. Stay tuned.

That places the veteran lockdown corner in line to return to the game-day roster for the first time since Week 8, potentially marking a substantial boost to one of the top defenses in the league. He’ll prepare to square off against the Jayden Daniel-less Commanders in Week 13.

Surtain suffered a pec strain in Week 8 and has been out ever since. The team declined to place him on injured reserve, meaning they thought he would be out fewer than four weeks. A limited practice is a step in the right direction, but the Broncos could hold him out one more game to make sure he doesn’t re-aggravate the issue. Either way, we expect Denver to handle business versus the Marcus Mariota-led Commanders this week.

Ditto Alex Singleton (illness), who had surgery aimed to remove testicular cancer that feels a little bigger than the (illness) tag implies. These would be two major defensive pieces back for the stretch run. It’s possible each of them return for Week 13 against the Commanders.

Surtain has been out since injuring his pec in Week 8. The Broncos will also be without LB Alex Singleton, who recently underwent a successful procedure to remove a tumor, and LB Jonah Elliss (hamstring). These are tough losses for a defense tasked with containing the Chiefs’ offense, but the unit as a whole remains strong.