The Denver Broncos will navigate life without Pat Surtain II for the next several weeks, but the All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year is looking to make sure he returns on the shorter end of his projected timeline.
Surtain suffered the injury in the Broncos’ win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.
He is expected to miss multiple weeks, but the exact timeline is unclear. The fact that the Broncos did not place Surain on injured reserve, nor do they plan to, is encouraging, though.
Pat Surtain II Opens Up About Strained Pectoral Muscle
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos reacts after sustaining an injury against the Dallas Cowboys.
Surtain has been durable for the Broncos, and his accolades underscore just how significant a loss on the field his absence creates. The former No. 9 overall pick of the 2021 draft spoke about the injury on his podcast.
Surtain called the win over the Cowboys a “big dub,” noting that “boys was getting after it” in the contest and that the Broncos “needed that.”
“Unfortunately,” Surtain suffered his injury.
“Comes with the game,” Surtain told Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold on the “Closed on Sundays” podcast on October 29. “Life is 10% how you make it, bro. And the rest is up to you. So, that 90%, bro, I’m thinking, ‘Man, how could I get better from this? How can I learn from it? I’m gonna attack rehab. Look to get better, look to get stronger.
Surtain encouragingly vowed that he was going “to be back out there in no time,” with the Broncos playing three games and having their bye over the next four weeks. That optimism likely factored into the Broncos’ decision-making.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton told media members during his availability that they have “had all those discussions” regarding putting Surtain on IR.
Had they done that, he would have been sidelined for four games, not weeks.
Pat Surtain II Taking Advantage of Downtime
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos reacts after beating the New York Jets.
Surtain has not missed a game due to injury since his rookie season, and he said he will take advantage of his time away from the field, to which he is simultaneously eager to return.
“In the meantime, bro, I’ll be kicking it,” Surtain said. Supporting my dawgs. “It’s going to suck, though, because I love being out there with the guys, competing, being out there on the field. Being that leader. But, minor setback. I’m going to get back right. But in the meantime, though, I’m gonna enjoy, kick it. Watch football, watch movies. Spend some downtime to myself that I didn’t get to enjoy during the season.”
The Broncos have several options to try and make do while Surtain is sidelined.
They turned to 2024 fifth-round pick Kris Abrams-Draine after Surtain exited the Cowboys game, but they also selected Jahdae Barron 20th overall in 2025. The Broncos like Barron’s versatility to play inside and outside.
That could lock him into a role behind both Abrams-Draine, healthy starter Riley Moss, and nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian.
None of them is on Surtain’s level.
The Broncos lead the league in sacks, and their opponent in Week 9, the Houston Texans, has had protection issues up front. However, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is mobile and could expose Surtain’s absence from the Broncos’ secondary if he breaks the pocket.
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