Good news for the Broncos? Maybe. But that short-term ankle injury to star cornerback Pat Surtain II means a new face will be lining up across from our boys when they clash with Denver soon. NFL Network’s lead league insider Ian Rapoport confirmed today that both Surtain II and wide receiver Pat Bryant suffered only short-term ankle issues during their Sunday loss to the 49ers.
Surtain II Sidelined: Hello, Jahdae Barron
Surtain II’s non-contact injury looked rough, dude couldn’t even put weight on it and had to be helped off the field. Everyone feared the worst, a season-ender, and who could blame them? But Rapoport says the MRIs came back clean enough: short-term. So, the Broncos dodged a bullet there. The big takeaway for us, though? 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron is stepping up. He relieved Surtain II on Sunday against the 49ers and actually played pretty well, making some nice plays in coverage and dropping some big hits on ball carriers. Now, this kid gets his chance to prove himself against the Chargers and, crucially, against our very own Seattle Seahawks. This means Brian Fleury, our OC, needs to be ready to feast on an inexperienced corner. And hey, if Riley Moss can’t go due to his ribs, Kris Abrams-Draine is also stepping up, further testing their depth.
Bryant’s Absence Adds to Broncos’ Offensive Woes
Meanwhile, WR Pat Bryant is out for a “few weeks” with a sprained ankle. Didn’t look great either when his knee/ankle bent awkwardly and he got carted off, but again, short-term. Bryant has become one of their more productive and consistent pass-catchers, so losing him is a definite blow to an offense that Rapoport’s sources are already calling “inconsistent.” Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., and Lil’Jordan Humphrey are gonna try and fill his shoes for the next couple of games, at least. You gotta wonder if this makes their already shaky passing game even easier to contain.
So, while the Broncos are probably breathing a huge sigh of relief, we’re looking at a different Broncos defense when they roll into town. That untested CB depth, especially with Barron getting the start, could be an interesting matchup for our offensive coordinator Brian Fleury to exploit. Our boys just took down the Chargers 30-23 at home, so the momentum is building. Let’s see if we can keep that going against a Broncos secondary that’s got some new faces on the field. Bring ’em on!
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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