Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Close To Return After Missing 3 Weeks
The Denver Broncos have been without their best defensive player, Patrick Surtain, for three straight games after he suffered a shoulder injury against the Dallas Cowboys. He returned to the practice field for the first time in over a month in a limited capacity. In a tight race for the one seed, Denver’s secondary and total defense will get even stronger.
Surtain Is Nearing Return
Ever since Surtain went down with a pectoral injury, the hope was to get the superstar back by Week 12 on Sunday Night Football against the Washington Commanders. Zac Stevens of DNVR reports that multiple sources have informed him that Surtain is expected to be available this week. Surtain returning to practice is another strong sign he’s ready to return.
Without Surtain, the Broncos’ defense has continued to play at a high level, and many secondary players have stepped up in his absence. Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, and Kris Abrams-Draine have been key to Denver’s success without Surtain, proving once again why they are the best defensive unit in the entire NFL.
Even when Patrick Surtain was on the field, the Broncos have missed a new starter at almost every point this season. Yet Vance Joseph still managed to create packages that confused opposing quarterbacks and dominated, no matter the personnel he was given. Finally back to full strength, Denver is getting the right pieces back at the best possible time.
The Broncos Are In a Tight Race
With multiple starters expected to return against the Washington Commanders, Denver is returning to full strength. Jayden Daniels is not expected to play, so Denver’s defense is likely to maintain its strong performance against Marcus Mariota. The same expectation extends to their following matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Turning to the final stretch of the season, the real test awaits the Broncos. The last four games will be crucial, as Denver faces three AFC opponents in the final three weeks and hosts Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers the week before. With the top seed in the AFC potentially coming down to a tiebreaker, Denver can’t afford to lose games against any in-conference opponent.
Furthermore, Denver must remain vigilant and avoid complacency with their large lead in the AFC West, as the relentless Kansas City Chiefs aren’t out of contention yet. In addition, the Los Angeles Chargers are just two games behind Denver in the standings, and these teams will face off again in the season finale on January 4.
If the Broncos continue to win, they’ll secure their first division title since the 2015 season, when they advanced to the Super Bowl and defeated Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
