Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, 26, was forced to leave the field after injuring his right ankle during the second quarter of the Broncos’ 24‑14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

Surtain, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and a four‑time first‑team All‑Pro, was covering a 24‑yard pass from Brock Purdy to Mike Evans when he slipped on his left foot, fell, and grabbed his right ankle. He was helped off the field and did not return for the second half.

Impact on the Broncos defense

With Surtain out, rookie Jahdae Barron stepped in to fill the cornerback spot. The Broncos also lost fellow starter Riley Moss to a rib injury for the second half, and reserve wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) was carted off in the third quarter.

Despite the injuries, Surtain recorded four tackles before exiting, bringing his season total to 21 tackles through four starts. He has amassed 300 tackles, 12 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 60 passes defensed in 84 regular‑season games since entering the league in 2021.

Broncos’ recent performance

The Broncos (2‑2) fell to the 49ers 24‑14, extending their early‑season struggles. The loss highlights the importance of depth on the defensive side as the team navigates injuries to key players.

Riley Moss, also 26, had recorded 16 tackles, one interception and five passes defensed before his rib injury. He entered the season with a career total of 188 tackles, three interceptions and 32 passes defensed in 49 games.

Reserve wide receiver Pat Bryant, 23, had three catches for 47 yards before his ankle injury. He has totaled nine catches for 135 yards and one touchdown in his first four games.

Looking ahead

Coach Sean Payton said the team will assess the injuries after the game but provided no further updates. The Broncos will need to rely on their depth and upcoming adjustments as they prepare for their next matchup.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.