Broncos’ Patrick Surtain, Pat Bryant Avoid Serious Injuries

Surtain limped off the field after sustaining a noncontact injury in the first half, while Bryant was carted off after a third-quarter catch. A report from The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero initially indicated Surtain was not believed to have sustained a long-term injury, and 9News’ Mike Klis followed up that hope also existed Bryant would be back this season. The good news continued Monday.

Surtain and Bryant are believed to have suffered short-term ankle injuries, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Surtain does face the prospect of potentially being out “several weeks,” Rapoport adds, but Denver avoided the worst-case scenario with its best player. Bryant will miss a few weeks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds.

The Surtain development, in particular, is reassuring news for the Broncos. The All-Pro cornerback is midway through what looks like a Hall of Fame career, and the Broncos have relied on the 2021 first-rounder — whom they set an extraordinarily high trade price on back in 2023 — in assembling top-tier defenses over the past two seasons. Surtain being set to miss time could point to a high ankle sprain, but the details here are not yet known.

Denver’s pass rush looks to have taken a step back following the free agency exit of John Franklin-Myers and Jonathon Cooper’s landing on the commissioner’s exempt list. The 49ers struggled offensively for much of the game, but they were able to negate the Broncos’ pass rush in a win that featured neither Surtain nor No. 2 cornerback Riley Moss on the field by game’s end. Moss suffered a rib injury.

Denver has Surtain tied to a now-below-market (for a shutdown corner, at least) four-year, $96MM extension. As the likes of Derek Stingley Jr., Sauce Gardner and Trent McDuffie created the $30MM-per-year cornerback club since that Surtain extension — before the subsequent Denzel Ward, Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez contracts — Denver rewarded the former Defensive Player of the Year with a $5MM raise this offseason. That could spike to $10MM if Surtain earns a fourth All-Pro nod or a fifth original-ballot Pro Bowl honor. This injury could certainly impact that $5MM incentive.

The Broncos got by without Surtain for a three-game stretch last season, winning all three games the corner missed, and the team is deep at corner. Teams had checked on Broncos CBs on the trade market this offseason, as the team has both Moss and slot corner Ja’Quan McMillian in contract years to go with 2025 first-rounder Jahdae Barron and spot starter Kris Abrams-Draine in place as backups. Denver resisted trading from this quintet, and that looks to be wise considering the recent injuries. Barron and Abrams-Draine finished out Sunday’s game as the Broncos’ boundary CBs.

No Surtain IR move occurred last season, when the CB sustained a pectoral injury; the Broncos opted to go week-to-week in that case. It would not surprise if the team proceeded similarly this year, given Surtain’s importance. If an IR move does take place, Surtain would miss games against the Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals and Chiefs.

After a strong summer secured Bryant’s spot as the Broncos’ No. 3 wideout, the second-year player has proven valuable as a Jaylen Waddle complementary piece this season. Bryant has posted 133 yards on nine receptions this season, adding a two-point conversion (and a rather important — and hotly debated — pass interference sequence against the Rams) as well. Bryant suffered his ankle malady on a 30-yard reception Sunday.

While Denver is deep at the receiver position, its offense has been sluggish — particularly in first halves — to start the season. With Davis Webb calling plays, the Broncos rank 26th in points and 27th in yardage. Bryant’s absence certainly could hurt a struggling offense.

Auxiliary options Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims will be positioned for bigger roles without Bryant. Franklin resided as the Broncos’ No. 2 receiver last season, but the Waddle addition and Bryant’s development moved the Bo Nix Oregon teammate down the depth chart. Mims, a two-time All-Pro return man, is in a contract year. Courtland Sutton remains in place, but the ninth-year player has started slowly (nine receptions, 86 yards) this season.