Patrick Surtain II avoided a serious ankle injury and is expected to miss only short-term action, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Denver Broncos cornerback went down without contact late in the second quarter of Sunday’s 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The update comes after Surtain needed help limping off the field during Sunday’s 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Surtain went down without contact late in the second quarter and was ruled questionable to return before being held out the rest of the game. The injury immediately raised concerns given his status as the anchor of Denver’s defense, but MRI results brought relief for the Broncos.
What The Team/Source Said
“The Broncos received some good news on both star CB Pat Surtain II and on WR Pat Bryant from their MRIs today, sources say,” Rapoport reported. “They avoided worst-case scenario on both of their ankle injuries, and both absences are expected to be short-term.”
Rapoport had earlier called the injury “kind of a weird one” since Surtain pulled up without contact while favoring his right foot. The Broncos have ruled out an Achilles issue, and The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported Sunday night that Surtain’s Achilles is “intact.” No official designation such as IR has been announced, and Denver is not expected to need a lengthy stint for its star cornerback based on the short-term outlook described by Rapoport.
Patrick Surtain II Replacement Options
If Surtain sits out, Riley Cooper would step in as Denver’s top cornerback. The picture is complicated by a second injury in the secondary: starting cornerback Riley Moss also left Sunday’s game with a rib injury, per ESPN‘s game recap.
That combination could open a bigger role for Barron, a 2025 first-round pick who played just 30% of Denver’s defensive snaps last season. Coach Sean Payton did not have immediate word on the full extent of either cornerback’s injury after the game.
Season Context
Surtain, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Pro, has been one of the league’s most avoided cornerbacks through four games. He has recorded 21 tackles and one pass breakup. Opposing quarterbacks have largely avoided testing him, with only 14 targets on the season and eight completions allowed through Denver’s first four games.
His coverage ability was on display again Sunday as Denver held the previously undefeated 49ers to three points through seven possessions before San Francisco’s offense broke through in the second half.
What’s Next
The Broncos, now 2-2, travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, per ESPN. Surtain’s practice status and any official injury designation for that game should become clearer as Denver’s weekly injury report takes shape ahead of kickoff.
Reporting from Yahoo Sports, ESPN, Sporting News and Bleacher Report contributed to this story.
