Denver Broncos Injuries: Surtain, Moss & Bryant News Vs. 49ers

The cornerback fell to the ground before getting assistance from two teammates to get off the field. Yahoo! Sports reports that he seems to have avoided what most deemed the worst-case scenario. The initial word is that his Achilles tendon is intact. That said, he could still land on injured reserve. Fans eagerly await the verdict, with further testing expected on Monday, per NBC Sports.

Riley Moss Injury

After suffering a rib injury in the Broncos’ second preseason game, a 33-13 drubbing at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on August 21, 2026, Moss seemingly reinjured the rib against the 49ers. After finishing the first half, his absence shocked viewers when he didn’t return from the locker room for the third quarter. The cornerback’s immediate future is unclear, but the team needs him back as soon as possible. The 26-year-old former Iowa Hawkeye has five pass deflections, an interception, and 16 tackles across 214 defensive snaps this year.

Fallout From The Broncos Injuries

After holding the 49ers to three points in the opening half, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was forced to change tool belts at the halftime break. Without his aces, Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron stepped in for the injured cornerbacks. While they performed at a respectable level, the drop-off was apparent. The switch led to three consecutive scoring drives by the 49ers.

Broncos Injuries Postgame Comments

Sportsnet reports on post-game comments from players and coaches. “I thought the young guys stepped up and did a good job,” linebacker Alex Singleton said. “They played exactly how you want them to play when a guy goes down like that. You’ve got to have guys that are ready, and thankfully we’ve talked about that a ton, and they were both ready to play football.”

“It makes it harder,” coach Sean Payton said. “You go 16 weeks, and that might happen once every two years. And yet, you have to be ready. Certainly, it affects Vance and what you want to call. It affects whether you’re going to be able to get into dime. Maybe you can play nickel still. But it’s going to take you out of some packages.”

Coach was also asked about the lack of pass rush and how it could have helped the makeshift secondary. “I thought we rushed him pretty good,” Payton said. “He came out of the pocket when we’ve got hands in his face; he found some outlets and sometimes threw it away. But playing defensively relative to the things he does well, he made some plays getting out and just throwing it away or finding somebody late in the progression. He’s playing well.”

Pat Bryant Injury

If this article didn’t have enough Broncos’ injuries, the team also lost a big piece on offense. Wide receiver Pat Bryant suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter and needed a cart to leave the field. An MRI is still needed to confirm the extent of the injury, but it appears Bryant avoided a season-ending blow. The second-year star has nine receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown through four games this season.

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End Of My Denver Broncos Injuries Rant

It’s unclear if Bryant, Moss, or Surtain will travel with the team for Week 5. These Broncos injuries will spill into Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, in a battle between two teams that have failed to live up to expectations. The Chargers have started a frigid 0-4 under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, so they will be hungry to devour the beat-up secondary.