The Denver Broncos’ defense will likely be without its star cornerback, Patrick Surtain II, after he suffered a pec strain in Sunday’s win against the Dallas Cowboys.
Surtain didn’t play in the second half on Sunday with what the team called a shoulder injury. We saw Surtain in the locker room briefly after the game, and he didn’t appear to have any type of sling or device supporting him.
Now, we know it’s a pectoral strain. He’s considered week-to-week and is unlikely to play against the Houston Texans on Sunday. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Broncos could put him on short-term injured reserve, but that’s something we’ll monitor this week.
Denver’s next three games are against the Texans, the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football, and a matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs before the team heads into their bye week.
If Surtain lands on short-term IR, it would likely happen this week, and he’d be set to return in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football.
Kris Abrams-Draine filled in for Surtain in the second half of Sunday’s game and had eight tackles. The second-year corner received praise from Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Monday.
“I think how we played was outstanding when he [CB Pat Surtain II] wasn’t in,” Payton said. That’s a big deal, especially when a large part of your plan is dealing with rotation and matchups and you’re dealing with [No.] 3 [Cowboys WR George Pickins] and [No.] 88 [Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb]. Then all of a sudden that one element goes away, it can be a little bit disruptive. I thought [CB] Kris [Abrams-Draine] did a great job. The whole lot of them did when we went without Pat. We continued to play a handful of the coverages, and yet [Defensive Coordinator] Vance [Joseph] did a good job adjusting. So that was very encouraging.”
Abrams-Draine could get the call again, but Denver certainly has plenty of options from a flexibility standpoint. Rookie Jahdae Barron could bump outside, or nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian could slide outside with Barron starting in the nickel.
You can’t replace a player like Surtain, but it gives Denver a chance to see how good their depth truly is at the position.