The Denver Broncos just suffered a massive blow less than 24 hours before Thursday Night Football. The Broncos will be without star cornerback Pat Surtain II when they host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, leaving Denver without one of the best defensive backs in the NFL for a matchup against an explosive Seattle passing attack.
Surtain was officially ruled out Wednesday with an ankle injury after missing practice throughout the week. The timing could hardly be worse for Denver. The Broncos are preparing to face Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who currently leads the NFL in receiving yards with 583 through five games.
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Pat Surtain’s absence is a massive problem
Surtain isn’t just another starting cornerback. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is the centerpiece of Denver’s secondary and allows defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to build his game plans around having a premier corner capable of limiting an opponent’s top receiving threat.
Now, Denver will have to find a different way to defend Seattle’s most dangerous offensive weapon.
Smith-Njigba has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers this season, and his production has continued even while dealing with an ankle issue. He was listed as a limited participant for the second consecutive day Tuesday, but he finished Seattle’s Week 5 loss to San Francisco with five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Broncos secondary takes another major hit
The Surtain news is even more concerning because Denver won’t have its full complement of defensive backs. Safety Talanoa Hufanga has also been ruled out and is expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury.
Cornerback Riley Moss is listed as questionable after missing last week’s game with a rib injury, although he has returned to limited participation this week.
That leaves Denver potentially facing Seattle without two of its most important defensive backs while trying to slow down Smith-Njigba and an offense that has shown the ability to create explosive plays through the air.
The Broncos managed to beat the Chargers last week despite Surtain’s absence, but Seattle presents a very different challenge. Smith-Njigba is playing at an elite level, and losing Surtain removes Denver’s best option for making life difficult for the Seahawks’ star receiver.
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