SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, whom defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has said is the starting point for the team's defensive plan each week, left Sunday's 24-14 loss at the San Francisco 49ers because of an ankle injury.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the defeat that he was still waiting on the extent of the injury from the team's medical staff -- "so, nothing right now," Payton said.
On a first-and-10 play from the 49ers' 42-yard line with 30 seconds left in the first half, Brock Purdy completed a 4-yard pass to Christian McCaffrey. However, away from the play and in front of the 49ers' bench, Surtain pivoted in coverage and began to hop on his left foot and kept his right foot off the ground.
Surtain then went to the ground as he grabbed his right foot and ankle until the Broncos' medical staff arrived. He was helped to the locker room by Broncos personnel and didn't return for the second half.
"[He's] a big part of our defense," Kris Abrams-Draine said. "... It's tough; he's the best player in our defense ... but we have to find a way to win the game."
Broncos defensive end Zach Allen called Surtain's injury "awful," and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Surtain's former teammate at Alabama and closest friend on the team, expressed his concern too.
"That's always sad, being as close as we are," Waddle said. "Sadly, it comes with the game. I'm praying for him."
To make matters more difficult, cornerback Riley Moss left the game because of a rib injury, leaving Jahdae Barron, who was the Broncos' first-round pick in the 2025 draft, and Abrams-Draine at the two outside cornerback spots.
"We just kept reminding each other, play hard, play fast," Barron said. "... We continued to fight, show a lot of grit."
"Young guys stepped up huge," linebacker Alex Singleton said. " ... Thankfully, they were both ready to play football."
If Surtain misses significant time, it could impact a defense that is one of the most aggressive in the league rushing the passer. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks in each of the past two seasons and like to play man-to-man or match up out of zone coverages because Surtain can line up with the league's best wideouts.
Joseph has routinely said the Broncos begin their preparations each week by figuring out how Surtain will be deployed.
He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time first-team All-Pro and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. The Broncos went 3-0 last season when Surtain missed time because of a pectoral injury. But this year's schedule looks more difficult in the weeks ahead, including games against the Chargers in Los Angeles, the Seahawks on a Thursday night and the Raiders over their next three games.
Payton said it was rare to see two starters at the same position leave the game within 30 seconds of each other.
"You'll go 16 weeks and that might happen once every two years, but you have to be ready," Payton said. "It affects if you can get into dime ... it might take you out of some packages."