Broncos Star Talanoa Hufanga Expected to Miss Multiple Weeks

The Denver Broncos are just 3-2 through five games this year, a disappointing start given their 14-3 finish last season.

Denver opened the season with a brutal 31-10 loss to the Chiefs, then beat Jacksonville 20-13 and the Rams 30-26 before falling 24-14 to the 49ers. They bounced back with a 23-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday, but it's been an up-and-down start, with the defense carrying much of the load. The offense is averaging just 269 total yards per game, the third-lowest mark in the NFL.

Now, the Broncos are set to be without one of their best defensive players for multiple weeks: safety Talanoa Hufanga. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday that Hufanga is expected to miss around 2-3 weeks, depending on how he recovers, with an ankle injury.

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Hufanga injured his ankle in the third quarter of the Broncos' Week 5 win over the Chargers, and didn't return to the game. It was a brutal time to lose their star safety, and Denver's defense had to make several crucial stops to secure the victory without him. Thankfully, it was against the Chargers.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate given that he was in line for another strong season in Denver. Through the first five games, he had recorded 23 total tackles, including 12 solo, three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, three pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack.

Last season, his first with the Broncos, he earned second-team All-Pro honors and cemented his status as one of the premier safeties in the NFL.

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Losing Hufanga is a big setback for a Denver defense that had carried them with the offense struggling. He's not only a reliable tackler, but also creates turnovers and has been one of the Broncos' most impactful playmakers. His absence puts immediate pressure on fellow safety Brandon Jones, along with third-year player Devon Key, to step up.

There won't be much time for Denver to adjust either. The Broncos will face the defending champion Seahawks on Thursday night, then travel to Arizona before hosting the Chiefs. Hufanga could miss most, if not all, of that stretch.