Broncos lose Surtain, Moss to injuries in 24-14 loss to 49ers
In short
The Denver Broncos lost both starting cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, to first-half injuries in a 24-14 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. Surtain went down with a non-contact right ankle injury and is believed to have avoided a long-term problem, with his Achilles intact pending further testing, according to an NFL insider cited by Newsweek. Receiver Pat Bryant was also carted off in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.
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The Denver Broncos lost both starting cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, to injuries in the first half of a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara on Sunday. Receiver Pat Bryant was also hurt and taken off the field on a cart with an apparent leg injury after a catch in the third quarter. [ 1 , 3 ]
Surtain went down late in the first half with a non-contact injury to his right ankle and needed to be helped to the locker room, having made four tackles. He was ruled out after halftime. Moss sat out the whole second half with a rib issue, and Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron took over, logging their heaviest snaps since Surtain missed three games last November. [ 1 , 3 ]
The early medical outlook for Surtain was more positive than the scene on the field. NFL insider Tom Pelissero posted on X that Surtain “is believed to have avoided a long-term injury,” that “his Achilles is intact, and all indications are that he avoided any worst-case scenario,” and that he will undergo further testing, according to Newsweek. Reuters reported that there was no serious ankle injury. The documents give no timetable for Moss or Bryant. [ 3 , 4 ]
Coach Sean Payton said the loss of the cornerbacks changed what the defense could do. “It makes it harder,” Payton said. “You go 16 weeks, and that might happen once every two years. And yet, you have to be ready. Certainly, it affects Vance and what you want to call. It affects whether you’re going to be able to get into dime. Maybe you can play nickel still. But it’s going to take you out of some packages.” Payton also said the offense was held to 82 rushing yards: “We just didn’t have enough offense to get a lead and then go beyond that.” [ 1 , 3 ]
Denver's defense, coordinated by Vance Joseph, held San Francisco to three points on the first seven drives before the 49ers scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the second half to seal the win. The defeat left the Broncos at 2-2 and equaled their road losses across all of 2025, the season that carried them to the AFC championship game. [ 1 , 3 ]
The documents differ on Surtain's accolades: AP described him as a two-time All-Pro who won the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, while Newsweek described him as a three-time All-Pro with two first-team nods and Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Newsweek reported he is 26. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The Broncos finished the game without both starting cornerbacks and a starting receiver, and coach Sean Payton said the losses limited the defensive packages the team could call. The result dropped Denver to 2-2 and matched its total road losses from 2025, the season it reached the AFC championship game. Surtain's status is the central question, given his standing as a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Key facts
- The Broncos lost both starting cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, to injuries in the first half against the 49ers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Denver lost the game 24-14, with San Francisco scoring touchdowns on three straight second-half drives. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Surtain went down late in the first half with a non-contact injury to his right ankle and was helped to the locker room. [ 1 , 3 ]
- NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that Surtain is believed to have avoided a long-term injury, with his Achilles intact and further testing planned. [ 3 ]
- Moss sat out the entire second half with a rib injury; Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron replaced the two starters. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Wide receiver Pat Bryant was taken off the field on a cart with an apparent leg injury after a catch in the third quarter. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The defeat left Denver at 2-2 and equaled its road losses from the 2025 season. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Surtain and Moss were both ruled out after first-half injuries in the Broncos' loss to the 49ers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Broncos lost the game 24-14. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Denver's defense held San Francisco to three points before the 49ers scored touchdowns on three straight second-half drives. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Surtain's Achilles is intact and he is expected to undergo further testing on his ankle. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How long Surtain, Moss and Bryant will be out. Surtain is awaiting further testing; the documents give no timetable for Moss's rib injury or Bryant's leg injury, and Payton offered no new health information after the game.
- The exact nature of Bryant's injury. Document 1 describes an apparent leg injury and document 3 says he left on a cart after a 30-yard catch-and-run; neither gives a diagnosis.
- Surtain's All-Pro count. The documents disagree: document 1 calls Surtain a two-time All-Pro, while document 3 calls him a three-time All-Pro with two first-team nods.
- Whether Surtain has been definitively cleared. The positive update is attributed to a single NFL insider cited by Newsweek, and Reuters' headline also reports no serious ankle injury, but no team statement is cited.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- AP reports that the Broncos lost both starting cornerbacks to first-half injuries, that Pat Bryant was carted off in the third quarter and that Denver lost 24-14 in Santa Clara. [ 1 ]
- The AP's Spanish-language report on the injuries to Surtain and Moss is published. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek reports that Surtain is believed to have avoided a long-term injury, with his Achilles intact, citing NFL insider Tom Pelissero, and that further testing is planned. [ 3 ]
- Reuters reports that there is no serious ankle injury for Surtain. [ 4 ]