Pat Surtain II, the Denver Broncos’ star cornerback and NFL’s top defensive player, can’t wait to get back out there. He’s bounced back from a partially torn pectoral muscle that cost him three games. When that two-time first-team All-Pro and reigning Defensive Player of the Year missed six games due to injury, this was the longest span he has missed in any season of his illustrious football career. His return is right on time as the Broncos are set to face off against the Washington Commanders in a primetime Sunday night matchup.
Surtain suffered his injury on an important play helping to seal the Broncos’ Week 8 win over the, at the time, red-hot Dallas Cowboys. With only 22 seconds left in the half, he went low on a tackle against Kent State alum wide receiver George Pickens. The play bent Surtain’s left arm and shoulder awkwardly behind his back. As a consequence, he will miss the next few games. Thankfully, no surgery was needed, and the Chargers decided not to put him on IR.
The Broncos have had the boon of a bye week that granted Surtain time to fully recover and practice once more. The team took off, anyway, and reached new heights without him. Players like Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron stepped up to man the cornerbacks position, and the team went a perfect 3-0 during his time away from the field.
They are very high in confidence out there. They were lights out and me getting to watch them from the sidelines turned me into a fan Surtain on his teammates rising up in his absence.
Surtain’s return immediately bolsters a Broncos’ defense that has allowed a league-low 53 points this season and has only given up three touchdowns. He spoke about the anxiety he felt but stressed the importance of him being able to get back into the lineup.
Sure enough, so it was a bit unusual for me,” he said about his time off the field.
Surtain is back to taking back his spot and the anticipation is palpable. Fans and teammates alike are looking forward to seeing his return impact the game against Washington this Friday. Beyond the stats, his return hypes up the entire locker room. It reintroduces a hugely important pillar to Denver’s defensive gameplan.
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