Riley Moss gave the Broncos at least one bit of good news coming out of Sunday’s loss to the 49ers: the cornerback apparently avoided a fractured rib, and the injury is not expected to be a long-term issue.
Moss exited Denver’s 24-14 defeat in the second quarter after hurting his ribs and did not return. According to RotoWire, citing NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he did not suffer a fractured rib. 9NEWS reported that the injury is not considered long-term, though his return date is still unclear.
That uncertainty matters more because Denver was already without Pat Surtain II, who left in the first half with a non-contact ankle injury. With both starters out against San Francisco, the Broncos had to lean on Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine on the outside while Ja'Quan McMillian stayed in his usual slot role.
Coach Sean Payton liked what he saw from the backups.
“Relative to their play (Sunday), I thought they came in and did a real good job,” Payton said Monday, according to the Denver Gazette. “It was good to see.
I think it’s a position we have depth at. Those guys both kind of got thrown in the fire and I thought handled it well.”
Barron’s role was already growing before the injuries. The former first-round pick logged 24 defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams after playing just six defensive snaps over Denver’s first two games. With Moss and Surtain both potentially sidelined, Barron and Abrams-Draine could be pushed into much bigger roles.
For now, Denver’s cornerback picture is thin. If Surtain and Moss are both unavailable, the Broncos would have only three healthy cornerbacks on the active roster: Barron, Abrams-Draine and McMillian. Brent Austin and Sean Fresch are also available on the practice squad.
Payton didn’t say Monday whether the Broncos might bring in another cornerback.
Denver’s first official injury report of the week arrives Wednesday, and that should give a better read on Moss’ chances of playing Sunday against the Chargers.
Moss has started all four games this season and has 16 tackles, an interception and five passes defensed. Last year, he led the NFL with 19 passes defensed while starting all 17 games.
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Broncos Finally Get A Chance To Fix Whats Holding This Offense Back
The Broncos have spent the early part of the season fighting for answers on offense, and now they get a chance to make some progress against a Chargers team dealing with plenty of its own problems. Los Angeles is still looking for its first win, and the issues around Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels system have made that side of the matchup far from clean. For Denver, it is the kind of opponent that can either provide a reset or expose how much work still remains.
After a stretch against stronger competition, the Broncos should see this as an opportunity to finally settle some of the things that have held the offense back. But a winless team can be a dangerous one if it is treated like a soft landing spot, especially in the AFC West where little margin exists for careless football. Denver does not just need the result, it needs proof that the offense can take advantage when the matchup is there. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Mims' Costly Mistake Has Broncos Fans Asking About Accountability
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The larger conversation around accountability did not stop with Mims, either. Former Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw took aim at Sean Payton after the game, and Payton did not push back in his postgame availability, instead responding positively to Greenlaws comments. Meanwhile, across the division, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was already talking about changing the approach around Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington, a sign that coaches on both sidelines are feeling the pressure to fix problems before they harden. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Need One Eagles Move Before The Trade Market Shifts
Philadelphias roster has already started to look different in the wake of the Cam Jurgens trade, and that kind of movement can reshape the market before the rest of the league catches up. The Eagles are dealing with a changing front as well, with Lane Johnson retired and the club sitting at 2-2, which makes any evaluation of their veteran talent more interesting for teams watching for an opening.
From Denvers side, the name worth tracking is Zack Baun, the inside linebacker who has recently earned both Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition. His contract is considered movable, and if the Eagles decide to keep adjusting their roster, the Broncos could make sense as a team ready to act before trade talks around the league shift into a more crowded market. [Read more 🡒]