Last season, Patrick Surtain II established himself as the top defensive back in the NFL and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the process. His ability to lock down receivers week after week set him apart from the rest of the field. This year, he’s recorded 21 solo tackles and six assisted tackles but no interceptions. However, opposing quarterbacks rarely dare to throw his way, so he is more valuable than stats say.
However, the Denver Broncos will be without their star cornerback for their Week 10 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Surtain has been ruled out ahead of the game, and given his importance to the Broncos’ defense, which is ranked 1st in PFSN’s Defensive Impact metrics, his absence is significant.
What Happened to Patrick Surtain?
Surtain has officially been ruled out for the Broncos’ Week 10 matchup, and the team will move forward without its best player. The decision comes after Surtain suffered an injury last week, and the team aims to manage his health to prevent further aggravation of the issue.
Surtain is dealing with a pectoral injury that he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.
“Broncos star CB Patrick Surtain II is dealing with a pectoral injury and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. No surgery is needed, but I’m told the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will get a second opinion this week to confirm the timeline.”
It appears that the injury is relatively mild in terms of severity. It was reported that Surtain will not be placed on the injury reserve, meaning he could return anywhere from the next one to four games.
“Sources tell me that he suffered a pec strain in the win over the Cowboys. He’s going to miss a couple of weeks, but not season-ending for Surtain, so a good outcome for Denver,” says Ian Rapoport.
The Broncos are currently 7-2 and lead the AFC West division by one game. Given the nature of the injury, it appears that Denver is opting to be cautious and is not willing to rush their star player back, giving him time to recover before a potential playoff run.
With Surtain sidelined, the Broncos will rely on Ja’Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine, Riley Moss, and Jahdae Barron to lock down their corner spots. Additionally, they’ll have the help of starting safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones to aid them in the defensive backfield.
The good news for the Broncos is that Surtain will be back this season. If recovery goes as expected, he could be back in the coming weeks and be ready for the final stretch of the season, as well as the playoffs.
