Sean Payton gave Broncos fans a reason to breathe a little easier when he offered a positive update on Pat Surtain’s ankle injury.
The Denver cornerback went down in the Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and the early concern around a player of his caliber was obvious. But Payton said he does not expect Surtain to be placed on injured reserve.
“That’s jumping way ahead,” Payton told reporters. “I don’t think so, and if they were I wouldn’t say so, but I don’t think so.”
That doesn’t lock in a return date, but it does point to a less serious situation than some feared. Surtain, the Broncos’ two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, has already put together another strong season, with 21 tackles and one pass defensed.
He did not practice Wednesday, so a Week 5 appearance against the Los Angeles Chargers looks unlikely. Still, the Broncos’ decision not to move him to injured reserve suggests they expect him back within the next three weeks.
For Denver, that’s the key part of this update: Surtain appears to have avoided the kind of injury that would wipe out a longer stretch of the season.
The 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been a cornerstone for the Broncos since they made him a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In his career, he has totaled 300 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 60 passes defensed, 12 interceptions and two touchdowns.
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