After losing starting cornerbacks Pat Surtain (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) to ankle injuries against the San Francisco 49ers last week, the Denver Broncos turned to Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine to close out the game.
“Relative to their play [Sunday], I thought they came in and did a real good job," Broncos coach Sean Payton said when asked about Barron and Abrams-Draine on Monday. "It was good to see. I think it’s a position we have depth at, and those guys both kind of got thrown into the fire and I thought they handled it well.”
Barron, the club's first-round pick in 2025, will likely start in place of Surtain against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5. KAD is expected to start across from him if Moss can't suit up on Sunday.
“Yeah,
it's awful, but I thought KD and Jahdae did a heck of a job," defensive lineman Zach Allen said after the team lost PS2 and Moss in Week 4. "It's a next-up mentality and hopefully we get everybody healthy."
Barron and KAD are projected to play on the outside while Ja'Quan McMillian continues to play in the slot.
“They’re savvy players; they both have good football instincts and IQ," Payton said of Barron and Abrams-Draine. "One of the reasons you draft at that position is because it’s hard to find in free agency. So both were ready when they needed to be, and that’s encouraging.”
Denver also has two cornerbacks available on the practice squad — undrafted rookie Brent Austin and ex-UFL star Sean Fresch — and it wouldn't be surprising to see one or both elevated to the game-day roster this weekend. Those two cornerbacks can provide more depth, but all eyes will be on Barron, Abrams-Draine and McMillian while Surtain and Moss are sidelined.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos turn to a pair of young cornerbacks after 2 injuries at position
