The Denver Broncos made a flurry of roster transactions on Tuesday, but it was what they did not do with cornerback Pat Surtain II that has the most significant implications.
Surtain strained his pec against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, and he will miss multiple games while he recovers. However, Surtain’s recovery could fall on the shorter end of what has already been projected for him.
The Broncos’ decision on Wednesday could be an indication that that is indeed the case.
Pat Surtain II Avoids Injured Reserve For Now
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos reacts after beating the New York Jets.
The Broncos cut quarterback Sam Ehlinger ahead of adding Dre Greenlaw back to their 53-man roster following the latter’s one-game suspension in Week 8. But Surtain avoided any action from the Broncos, which 9News’ Mike Klis noted on X was “encouraging.”
“The Broncos did NOT put Pat Surtain on IR today,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens posted on X on October 28. “Good sign.”
That was the prevailing sentiment around a situation with few details available.
Surtain has been durable for the Broncos, but this injury threatens to sideline him for up to six weeks. However, the Broncos are holding out hope that the All-Pro defender will be able to make it back sooner.
Placing Surtain on IR would mean he has to miss at least four games. His earliest return date would have been Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
As it stands, Surtain will certainly miss Week 9 against the Houston Texans.
However, Surtain could, in theory, miss “multiple weeks” and return as soon as Week 11, which is also against the Raiders. If there is one reason to temper optimism, it is that the Broncos also delayed placing Greenlaw on IR until Week 3 of the season.
That was despite his injury occurring in training camp. Greenlaw was forced to miss Weeks 4 through 7, only to receive a suspension in his return.
The Broncos went 5-2 in games Greenlaw missed.
Broncos Face Steep Challenge to Replace Pat Surtain II
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos is helped off the field after an injury against the Dallas Cowboys.
They boast depth in their secondary, but replacing Surtain is a different challenge altogether for the Broncos to navigate.
Former NFL player Marcus Spears lamented the loss of Surtain for the Broncos, noting the onus will be on defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to scheme around his absence. Spears called the situation a “big deal” for the Broncos to overcome.
The three-time Pro Bowler allows Joseph plenty of flexibility.
“Think about how much availability Vance Joseph has to either bring pressure when he wants to, to feel confident about Patrick Surtain and the guy that he’s covering. Also, you think about how well this team pass rushes. At some point, some quarterbacks were gonna get greedy and think that they could go and attack Surtain during the season. Or they were going to try to see if they could make a play on their side, and it probably was gonna end up in a interception. I don’t think this dude’s absence can be minimized,” Spears said on “NFL Live” on October 28.
“This is a big deal. For them, I want to see how Vance Joseph adjusts to this up front. Because I think pressure or either leaning into a four-man rush is how you compensate, as opposed to thinking you’re gonna have somebody to replace.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Broncos Make Attention-Grabbing Decision Amid Pat Surtain II Injury appeared first on Heavy Sports.