Patrick Surtain, Pat Bryant avoid major injuries in Broncos’ Week 4 loss

The Denver Broncos appear to have avoided a worst-case scenario on the injury front coming out of their Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Cornerback Patrick Surtain and wide receiver Pat Bryant both exited the game with concerning leg injuries, but early indications are that each player is dealing with a short-term ankle issue rather than a season-ending setback.

Surtain and Bryant expected to miss weeks, not season

Surtain limped off in the first half after a non-contact play, immediately raising fears of a serious injury to Denver’s defensive cornerstone. Bryant was later carted off the field following a third-quarter catch. Follow-up reporting has since indicated that both players are believed to have suffered ankle injuries that should keep them out for weeks but not the remainder of the season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes Surtain could miss "several weeks," while ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Bryant is also in line to sit out a few games.

The news is particularly significant for Surtain, a multi-time All-Pro and former Defensive Player of the Year who has anchored top-tier Broncos defenses over the past two seasons. Denver signed him to a four-year, $96MM extension that now looks like a below-market deal as the cornerback salary tier has surged with contracts for Derek Stingley Jr., Sauce Gardner, Trent McDuffie and others. The Broncos recently added a $5MM raise for Surtain this year, with the potential for that to grow if he hits further All-Pro or Pro Bowl benchmarks, goals that could be impacted by any extended absence.

Broncos’ corner depth and pass rush under the microscope

Denver’s depth at cornerback will be tested while Surtain recovers. The Broncos finished the loss to San Francisco without either Surtain or No. 2 outside corner Riley Moss, who left with a rib injury. That pushed Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine into boundary roles, with Ja’Quan McMillian working inside. Other teams reportedly inquired about Denver’s corners in trade talks earlier this year, but the Broncos held onto the group, a decision that now looks prudent.

At the same time, the pass rush has already taken a step back following John Franklin-Myers’ departure in free agency and Jonathon Cooper’s placement on the commissioner’s exempt list. The 49ers were able to keep Denver’s pass rush largely in check, especially after the secondary was thinned out by injuries.

Bryant’s emergence stalled as Broncos’ offense sputters

On offense, Bryant’s injury comes just as he had carved out a clear role as Denver’s No. 3 wide receiver behind headline addition Jaylen Waddle. The second-year target has produced 133 yards on nine catches, added a two-point conversion and been involved in a high-profile pass-interference sequence against the Los Angeles Rams. He suffered his ankle injury on a 30-yard reception in the loss to San Francisco.

Bryant’s absence should open the door for more snaps for Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims, alongside veteran Courtland Sutton, who has started slowly with nine receptions for 86 yards. With Davis Webb calling plays, the Broncos’ offense sits 26th in points and 27th in total yardage, and losing a useful complementary receiver is unlikely to help those rankings. In the short term, Denver will lean on its much-discussed depth at both cornerback and wideout while it waits for Surtain and Bryant to return.