The Broncos’ Thursday night trip to Seattle got a lot tougher before the game even kicked off.
Denver will be without two key defensive starters against the Seahawks, with cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga both ruled out because of ankle injuries. The Broncos are also waiting on cornerback Riley Moss, who is questionable with a rib injury, which leaves the secondary in a precarious spot heading into a major early-season test.
That’s a brutal setup for a defense that now has to line up against Seattle without one of its best cover men and one of its most experienced safeties. Surtain is one of the league’s top corners and a centerpiece of Denver’s defensive approach.
When he’s on the field, the Broncos can play with more freedom behind him. Without him, the coverages tighten up and the margin for error shrinks fast.
The challenge gets even sharper because Jaxon Smith-Njigba is available for Seattle despite showing up on the injury report with an ankle issue. His presence gives the Seahawks a real chance to stress a Denver secondary that may already be short-handed.
Hufanga’s absence is just as damaging in its own way. Denver loses a safety who helps sort out communication, coverage changes and run support - all the little things that become huge when an offense can hit explosive plays.
Seattle has injury issues too, but not nearly the same kind of defensive-crisis feel. Linebacker Drake Thomas is out with an ankle injury, Chazz Surratt will miss the game with a calf problem, and running back Zach Charbonnet remains sidelined while recovering from a knee injury. Still, the Seahawks got some important good news with Smith-Njigba and defensive tackle Leonard Williams both cleared to go despite ankle concerns during the week.
The matchup comes with both teams sitting at 3-2. Seattle is trying to bounce back from a 32-29 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while Denver is coming off a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. One team is trying to steady itself after a close divisional defeat, and the other is looking to carry momentum from beating an AFC West rival.
There’s more than just a single-game edge at stake, too. Denver and Seattle were both No. 1 seeds in their conferences during the 2025 season, and their 3-2 starts show how quickly the grind can change from one year to the next.
Seattle is chasing an undefeated San Francisco team in the NFC West. Denver is trying to stay within range in an AFC West that already has Kansas City in front.
For the Broncos, the big question is simple: can the remaining defensive backs hold up without Surtain and Hufanga? Denver still has talent and enough coaching behind it to make adjustments, but losing both at once is a heavy blow.
Thursday night should tell the story quickly.
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