Latest on Pat Surtain II's 'Weird' Injury, Timeline to Return to Broncos Revealed in New NFL Rumors

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II could miss multiple weeks due to the ankle injury he suffered in Sunday's 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport described the injury as "kind of a weird one" because the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year pulled up without contact and was favoring his right foot:

While the nature of the injury is unclear, Rapoport reported the Broncos have ruled out an Achilles-related issue.

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The Ringer's Tom Pelissero initially reported Sunday night that Surtain's Achilles is "intact."

Surtain and the Broncos may have dodged a bullet. Still, his absence for multiple weeks would be a big blow for the defense.

Through Denver's first four games, he had 21 tackles and one pass breakup. Opposing quarterbacks have steered clear of him for the most part. He has been targeted just 14 times, allowing eight completions, according to Pro Football Reference.

Compounding matters for the Broncos, they watched their other starting cornerback, Riley Moss, leave Sunday with a rib injury.

Linebacker Alex Singleton praised the efforts of Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron against the Niners.

"Young guys stepped up huge," he told reporters. " … Thankfully, they were both ready to play football."

This could present Barron, a 2025 first-round pick, with a springboard to showcase his skills in a larger role. He appeared in all 17 games last year but was on the field for just 30 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

Even if Barron settles in nicely, there's bound to be a drop between he and Surtain. And losing a defensive back who so effectively blankets opposing receivers could have a wider effect on the scheme of coordinator Vance Joseph.