The Denver Broncos are heading into the most defining stretch of their season, chasing what could be their first AFC West title in a decade. But they’ll be doing so without their best player: All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. No wonder former Broncos player Mark Schlereth feels unsettled.

“The Patrick Surtain thing, it’s legitimate, man,” Schlereth said on The Rich Eisen Show. “It scares me a little bit. He could be out three to six weeks with a pectoral injury. He just shuts down one side of the football field and gives them the ability to bring the blitz, gives them the ability to rush the opponent’s quarterback, lead the league in sacks.”

Sure, Surtain may not have contributed to the Broncos’ league-high 36 sacks this season, but his ability to shut down a quarterback’s go-to target is what makes Denver’s pass rush so effective.

Unfortunately for him and his team, Surtain’s arm and shoulder twisted as he tried to tackle Dallas Cowboys’ WR George Pickens with just 22 seconds left in the first half. The pectoral injury he sustained as a result is a hit to his franchise, considering he missed just two games in his career: first in 2021 as a rookie and the next in 2024. But it doesn’t end there.

That game showed how the Broncos don’t play the same way without Surtain on the field. Denver played man-to-man defense on 41.2% of opponent passes with the CB in the game. That stat dipped to just 29.4% in the second half.

“They’re crushing everybody when it comes to pressure on the quarterback. A lot of that has to do with this symbiotic relationship between coverage and what Pat Surtain brings to the table and what you do as a defensive front,” Schlereth further opined. “So, that part scares me a little bit, Rich. How long will he be out? I don’t know.” 

As things stand, the player is expected to miss several games, starting with their road matchup against the Houston Texans. If the team decides to place him on IR, he would have to sit out four games. In that case, he could come back to play against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 7

Currently, the only alternative left is the ‘next man up’ philosophy. But that’s going to be difficult for the franchise. While players and coaches might fall back on that mantra, the fact is that the absence of a three-time Pro Bowler would require massive adjustments if they want to keep up with their attacking nature.

Who will replace Patrick Surtain?

After the CB went down on Sunday, Kris Abrams-Draine was brought in. So, it is likely that the second-year cornerback will be the one. He was a fifth-round pick out of Missouri in 2024 and played well late in his rookie season.

Though he struggled against the Cowboys, coach Sean Payton was happy with his performance. So, he seems the first choice to start across from Riley Moss.

The team isn’t adding pressure on Abrams-Draine, but replacing Surtain will be a difficult task. Everyone in the organization knows that. DC Vance Joseph himself has publicly testified, “Everything we do starts with Pat.”

Regardless, Ja’Quan McMillian will continue playing in his slot, while rookie Jahdae Barron will also continue his rotational role in the secondary. If Denver can simply weather this storm, they’ll be all the more unbeatable when their anchor is back on the field. What do you think?