The Denver Broncos didn’t just lose a game to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, they lost a whole lot more to injury, and it could be brutal. Star corner Pat Surtain II, fellow starting corner Riley Moss, and wide receiver Pat Bryant all left the game, and it looks like they could be out for serious time, maybe even the whole season for some of them. Surtain’s non-contact ankle injury, especially, has all the hallmarks of a season-ending Achilles tear, which is just gut-wrenching news for that defense.
The Injury Bug Bit Hard: Who’s Out and For How Long?
Let’s be real, despite some “brain-trust optimism,” there’s no silver lining here. Surtain II going down with what looks like an Achilles is a disaster. You just can’t replace a talent like that. Then you’ve got Pat Bryant, who was carted off after a gruesome ankle injury. Even if it’s not season-ending, he’s definitely missing more than a few weeks. That’s a reliable offensive contributor just wiped out. And Riley Moss? He already missed preseason time with a rib injury. Now it’s happened again. Best case, it’s a couple weeks like before, but if there’s a bone fracture or cartilage damage, we’re talking three to six-plus weeks of recovery. Losing both your starting corners and a key receiver? That’s a triple whammy that totally changes their outlook.
Offense: Time to Grow Up, Like, Yesterday
Here’s the cold, hard truth for the Broncos: their defense can no longer be trusted to keep games close. For Bo Nix, that defense was always his security blanket, letting Davis Webb kinda “wobble and stumble like a toddler learning to walk” with the play-calling for the first three quarters. Guess what? That time is over. The offense has to lock in from the jump. They need fast starts, sustained drives, and a run game that *actually* produces. Wasting downs and going three-and-out will absolutely stress an already depleted secondary, and that, my friends, will lead to horrific results. Webb’s cute little adventure finding his way as a play caller? It’s done. They need to strike first, strike hard, and cover for a defense that just lost its identity. Sustaining offensive pressure for all four quarters is now the most crucial thing for the Denver Broncos.
These injuries don’t necessarily torpedo all their Super Bowl dreams for 2026, but let’s be honest, they absolutely don’t help. The Broncos offense has to show up when the game starts, not just when they’re playing catch-up in the fourth quarter. It’s sink or swim time for this squad.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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