Broncos HC Sean Payton Delivers Blunt Message Amid Pat Surtain II Injury
The Denver Broncos did not have many issues dispatching the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, but they do face concerns around two-time First Team All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Surtain exited the game with an ankle injury in the first quarter but returned by the Broncos’ next defensive series. However, he exited again in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
That one knocked him out of the game, with official word coming during the third quarter.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Stays Mum on Pat Surtain II Injury
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos is helped off the field after an injury against the Dallas Cowboys.
Surtain has been one of the most durable players in the league, missing just two games in his career with the Broncos, who selected him with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2021 draft. Both games came in Week 18 of the regular season, including last year for rest.
The Broncos will certainly wait with bated breath until the three-time Pro Bowler is at full strength in practice.
After the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton offered nothing on Surtain postgame.
“Pretty good. Proud of them,” Payton told reporters about the Broncos’ secondary after the game. “Don’t like to see that happen. You never know when a player goes down. The next man is up. Not going to discuss any of the players that were injured at all, but I was proud of the guys that had to go play when someone went down.”
Surtain, 25, is off to another strong start, allowing 53.3% completion in his coverage entering this contest, per Pro Football Reference. That is the second-best mark of his career, while his 69.6 QB rating allowed is the third-best.
The Broncos signed Surtain to a four-year, $96 million contract extension in September 2024, a testament to the caliber of player that he is.
Without him, the Broncos could be vulnerable on the back end.
Broncos Will Miss Pat Surtain II If Injury Leads to Time Off
GettyPat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos breaks up a pass intended for George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Broncos’ other top corners – starter Riley Moss, nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian, and rookie first-round draft pick Jahdae Barron, the No. 20 overall pick in 2025, who recorded his first career interception on Sunday – allowed a combined 52.4% completion rate before Sunday.
They allowed seven completions in 14 targets against the Cowboys, per Pro Football Focus, with Moss continuing to face heavy targets (6-for-11 for 56 yards) and committing two penalties.
The Broncos visit the Houston Texans in Week 9.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is coming off his first 300-passing-yard game of the season and a win over the previously 5-2
The Broncos entered Sunday’s slate of games in Week 8 ranked fourth in scoring defense and third overall.
Surtain has been a critical part of the Broncos’ success, making his next update just as critical.
The Broncos will not get back on the practice field until Wednesday, and they notably face the
Seahawks get hopeful update on Jayden Daniels for Week 9 Commanders matchup
The 2024 class of quarterbacks is turning out to be undeniably impressive. Bo Nix and Drake Maye are delivering on the potential they showed as rookies. Michael Penix Jr. is having his moments and Caleb Williams is starting to come along.
The most-impressive of the bunch is of course Jayden Daniels, who wound up winning Offensive Rookie of the Year as he led the Washington Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to have their first look at Daniels when they return from their bye week for a Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 9. However, fate may have other ideas.
Daniels is currently out due to a hamstring injury and will not play in Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. There's a good chance he will also be on the sideline for next week's game against the Seahawks.
Here's what ESPN NFL insider Adam Shefter had to say about Daniels' status in an appearance on Get Up a few days ago.
“Not going to play on Monday night. It’s going to be Marcus Mariota in Kansas City, which…(can go) better than people think. Marcus Mariota steps in, but Jayden Daniels has that hamstring injury,” Schefter said. “And, look what Lamar Jackson just missed. He missed two games, the bye and we still don’t know whether he’s back three weeks later. Jayden Daniels might be, might be, on a similar timeline, which could derail Washington’s season.”
Daniels is not Lamar Jackson of couse, and we can't assume it will go the same way - whether Dan Quinn fudges with his injury status or not.
It would be a huge break for the Seahawks not to have to face Daniels, who's posted nine touchdown passes and just one interception in five games so far this season.
If Daniels can't go, Quinn will give the ball to Marcus Mariota - who may be a capable backup but has long-since been defined as a first-round bust out of Oregon. Mariota was able to beat Pete Carroll's Raiders a month ago, but otherwise hasn't found much success, losing a start to the Falcons and bombing against the Cowboys after Daniels went down.
There's something to be said for beating a team at full strength - but the Seahawks are going to get plenty of brually difficult NFC matchups in the second half of their schedule, and a soft landing to get things started would be nice.
We'll follow up with more on Daniels' status for next week as it becomes available.
