The Broncos lost both starting cornerbacks, including former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, during Sunday’s game against the 49ers.
Surtain, a four-time Pro Bowler in his first five seasons in the league, left the game late in the second quarter after suffering a non-contact ankle injury.
“It makes it harder,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters about the rash of injuries. “You go 16 weeks, and that might happen once every two years. And yet, you have to be ready. Certainly, it affects [defensive coordinator] Vance [Joseph] and what you want to call. It affects whether you’re going to be able to get into dime. Maybe you can play nickel still. But it’s going to take you out of some packages.”
The Broncos ruled him out after halftime, before also losing No. 2 corner Riley Moss (rib) and wide receiver Pat Bryant, who had to be carted off the field in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.
The 28-year-old Surtain was injured on a pass play just before halftime, falling to the turf without being contacted by an opposing player.
He was helped off the field by two medical trainers and taken to the locker room.
Surtain signed a four-year contract extension worth $96 million with the Broncos in 2024, but his deal was restructured before this season to boost his salary for 2026 by $5 million.
