Broncos S Talanoa Hufanga Facing Multi-Week Absence

Hufanga has not practiced this week, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the ankle injury he sustained in Los Angeles is expected to sideline him for two or three weeks. This would be Hufanga’s first missed time as a Bronco, but the ex-49ers All-Pro saw injuries on his rookie contract impact his free agency value.

An ACL tear in 2023 stalled Hufanga’s momentum after a first-team All-Pro 2022 season. After he returned from ACL rehab, the USC product went down again, suffering ligament damage in his wrist. Hufanga missed 20 49ers games from 2023-24, hitting free agency on a down note. But the Broncos have seen their three-year, $39MM contract pay off early, with the former fifth-round pick earning his second All-Pro honor last season.

Hufanga, whose $13MM AAV checked in lower than 2025 safety signings Tre’von Moehrig, Jevon Holland and Camryn Bynum, earned second-team All-Pro status in 2025 despite not recording an interception in his first Broncos season. He did not miss any time due to injury last season, and the sixth-year defender made a significant impact in Denver’s Week 3 win over the Rams. Hufanga, 27, intercepted two passes and sacked Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter. The first of those picks resulting in a Hufanga touchdown swung the effort in Denver’s favor.

Brandon Jones, who missed the end of last season with a pectoral injury, intercepted a Justin Herbert pass Sunday and joined Ja’Quan McMillian as the last men standing from the Broncos’ starting secondary. Riley Moss missed Week 5 with a rib injury, but Denver’s No. 2 boundary corner has returned to practice this week. Moss would stand to have his spot back, with 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron likely keeping his. Kris Abrams-Draine would be the first CB off the bench in that scenario against the Seahawks; the 2024 fifth-rounder would start again if Moss cannot go.

As for Hufanga’s spot, the Broncos have special-teamer Devon Key in place as a fill-in option alongside Jones. A first-team All-Pro special-teamer in 2025, Key is in his fourth Denver season. The former UDFA has made two career starts — both in 2024. The Broncos lost P.J. Locke in free agency, opening the door for Key to work as their top safety backup.