Schefter: Broncos Could Place Surtain and Bryant on Injured Reserve

Denver's injury crisis could be about to get worse. Speaking on Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter said the Broncos are considering placing star cornerback Pat Surtain II and rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant on injured reserve with ankle sprains. An IR move would rule both out for a minimum of four games, making them eligible to return against Carolina in Week 9. Surtain, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, went down with a non-contact right ankle injury late in the second quarter of Sunday's 24-14 loss to San Francisco, crumpling to the turf away from the play as Brock Purdy completed a pass to Mike Evans. He was helped off and ruled out for the second half. The good news is the MRI revealed no serious damage: his Achilles is intact and multiple reports describe the injury as short-term rather than season-ending, with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler initially estimating about two weeks. Schefter's report suggests the timeline may be longer. The Broncos also lost fellow starting corner Riley Moss to a rib injury on Sunday, leaving young reserves Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine to hold the secondary together. The timing could hardly be worse: Denver's next four games include trips to the Chargers and Seahawks plus a home date with the unbeaten Chiefs. Surtain, 26, has 21 tackles through four games this season. Bryant, carted off in the third quarter, has nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in his second NFL season.