The Broncos may be on the verge of getting two important pieces back just in time for a shot at Patrick Mahomes.
As Denver prepares to host Kansas City in Week 8, cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga are both in the mix to return from ankle injuries, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano in their Wednesday insider column. Their potential comeback comes after both missed Sunday’s 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals, leaving Denver short in the secondary.
“Denver defensive backs Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, both nursing ankle injuries, have a chance to return. Hufanga is projected to be out two to three weeks, and this is the third week of that timeline.
Surtain enters Week 4 of his rehab, which could be the ideal time to return. After all, it's Kansas City week.
Their returns would be timely.”
Surtain’s ankle injury came in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, and he sat out the next two games before getting back on the field in a limited practice capacity on Oct. 21. He was listed as questionable for the Arizona game, but Denver ultimately ruled him inactive.
Hufanga’s injury happened during the Broncos’ Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN’s reporting suggests he is now in the window where a return could happen, though nothing has been confirmed for Sunday.
That matters with Kansas City coming off its first loss of the season, a 20-3 road defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Patrick Mahomes finished 19 of 33 for 165 yards with an interception, and the Chiefs did not reach the red zone for the first time in his 153 career starts, including the postseason.
The Chiefs still handled Denver in the teams’ Week 1 meeting, rolling to a 31-10 win on Monday Night Football. The rematch is set for Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
ET/1:25 p.m. PT on CBS at Empower Field at Mile High, with both Broncos defenders potentially back in uniform but not yet cleared in full.
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