Locked into a heated heavyweight matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the Denver Broncos needed all hands on deck in every phase. Unfortunately for one of last year's AFC finalists, they were not going to enjoy such a luxury.
All-Pro-caliber cornerback Patrick Surtain II had to leave the Week 4 game with an ankle injury after going down with no contact. That doesn't necessarily mean Surtain suffered a serious injury, but it is still not a good sign in itself. Unsurprisingly, Surtain will not come back to the game against San Francisco, with that acting as head coach Sean Payton's only real update about his star defender. The Broncos will have to try to beat the 49ers without him.
Yikes. You hope for the best for one of the NFL's premier
defensive backs:
Sean Payton said coming out of the locker room that he doesn't have a final update on Pat Surtain but he is OUT to start the half.
— Rachel Vigil (@heyrachelvigil) October 4, 2026
Much of the Broncos' defensive success is centered around what Surtain can accomplish as a cornerback. They are undoubtedly hoping for good news that says Surtain's injury isn't serious and that he won't miss any extended time while they try to properly evaluate his health.
Who is Patrick Surtain II's backup on the Broncos?
Jahdae Barron is listed as Barron's backup on the Broncos' official depth chart. Barron was a first-round draft pick by Denver in 2025.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Patrick Surtain II injury update: What happened to the Broncos CB?
