Injuries Bite Hard Before Thursday Night: Surtain, Hufanga, Thomas All Out for Seahawks-Broncos

Thursday night's matchup in Denver will be missing some of its biggest names. The Broncos officially ruled out cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga for their home game against the Seattle Seahawks, both nursing ankle injuries, while the Seahawks scratched starting linebacker Drake Thomas with an ankle injury of his own.

Denver's secondary is taking the hardest hit. Hufanga, who has 23 tackles, two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — a sack and a forced fumble through five starts, hurt his ankle in Sunday's 23-17 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and ESPN reports he could miss two to three weeks. Surtain misses another game after being ruled out Wednesday, though there is hope he can return for Week 7. Jahdae Barron is expected to start in Surtain's place, with Devon Key stepping in at safety, and cornerback Riley Moss (ribs) is listed as questionable.

Seattle has its own absences. Thomas was hurt in Sunday's 32-29 loss to San Francisco, and head coach Mike Macdonald could not say whether the short week was the only reason he will miss the game. Linebacker Chazz Surratt (calf) is out for a third straight week, and running back Zach Charbonnet remains on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery and must be activated next week to play this season.

There was good news for the Seahawks: receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and defensive tackle Leonard Williams, both nursing ankle injuries, are cleared to play, and Smith-Njigba was named one of the team's captains for the night. Tyrice Knight will start for Thomas alongside Ernest Jones IV.

Both teams sit at 3-2. The game kicks off at 6:15 p.m. MT on Thursday and streams on Prime.