Pat Surtain II is officially back.
The reigning NFL defensive player of the year is off the injury report and set to play Sunday night at Washington after missing three-plus games with what he described Friday as a partially torn pectoral muscle.
The All-Pro Broncos cornerback participated in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis, practiced fully the past two days, and will return to the lineup against the Commanders. He told reporters Friday he’ll wear a harness to help protect the muscle. Overall, though, he feels like he’s in a good place health-wise.
When he takes the field, it will be five weeks to the day since the injury occurred against Dallas. Surtain was able to miss just three games and avoid an injured reserve placement because of Denver’s bye week.
In his absence, the Broncos went 3-0. They beat Houston, Las Vegas and Kansas City, allowed 13.7 points over those three games and yielded just a single passing touchdown.
“Obviously, we know we’re at a good state right now with the team, so I took my time with it,” Surtain said of his rehabilitation, “But I was also, like, anxious to get back. I want to give credit to the training staff for allowing me to get better in the rehab, keep on going and keep on getting better each and every week.”
The Broncos used first-round rookie Jahdae Barron in base defense and second-year man Kris Abrams-Draine in nickel to try to cover for Surtain’s absence.
“I’ve been mentioning before how great of players Jahdae and KD are,” Surtain said. … “It wasn’t a surprise because the boys prepare the right way, practice the right way, and they have the right mindset and habits.”
He said he was there for support and to help correct mistakes, but there weren’t many corrections because the young guys played “lights out.”
Surtain said this is the longest he’s ever been off the football field during a season due to injury, so he tried to find the good in it.
“It was a little different for me, but honestly, it was like a blessing because I was able to do some things that I don’t normally do,” Surtain said. “Spend some quality time with the family, talk to the family, stuff like that. I was more at home than usual. It comes with the good and bad, but obviously you miss time sitting out, but I was able to gain a lot.”
But make no mistake, Surtain is excited about his return to the field.
“Very. It’s not anxious, but it’s that build-up that I’ve been feeling sitting out the past couple of weeks,” he said. “You know it’s not going to be perfect, but just getting out there and feeling that momentum, getting your stride back, knocking the rust off. That’s what I think is going to be exciting.”
The Commanders are going to be without star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who remains out after dislocating his left elbow earlier in the season. They are set to get top receiver Terry McLaurin back from injury, however. So this is the return of a top pass-catcher and also the top corner.
“He’s a great receiver,” Surtain said of McLaurin. “He’s been doing it consistently in this league for some time, so it’ll be a great matchup and I’m looking forward to it.”
Adkins out, Ellis questionable. The Broncos weren’t so fortunate with tight end Nate Adkins on the injury front. He was hurt the same day as Surtain against the Cowboys but has not responded as quickly to a left knee injury and is out a fourth straight game.
In hindsight, Denver could have placed him on injured reserve — it comes with a minimum four-game absence — but head coach Sean Payton thinks he could return at Las Vegas next week.
“He was close, we felt, coming into this week and realistically I think next week much more realistic,” Payton said.
Elliss injured his hamstring against Las Vegas after 16 snaps and didn’t play Nov. 16 against Kansas City. He also missed time earlier this season due to fractured ribs and a shoulder injury.
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