The Denver Broncos enter Week 8 monitoring cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga as they prepare to host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Both defensive backs missed Sunday’s 30-16 win vs. the Arizona Cardinals with ankle injuries, leaving the Broncos without two key secondary starters.
The matchup arrives after the Chiefs suffered their first loss, falling 20-3 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano detailed the star duo’s potential return Wednesday in their weekly insider column.
“Denver defensive backs Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, both nursing ankle injuries, have a chance to return. Hufanga is projected to be out two to three weeks, and this is the third week of that timeline. Surtain enters Week 4 of his rehab, which could be the ideal time to return. After all, it's Kansas City week. Their returns would be timely.”
Surtain injured his ankle against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 and missed the following two games.
He returned to practice as a limited participant on Oct. 21, his first session since the injury. The Broncos listed him as questionable against Arizona before making him inactive.
Hufanga suffered his ankle injury during Denver’s Week 5 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. His recovery initially carried an estimated two-to-three-week timeline.
ESPN has not confirmed clearance for either player to face the Chiefs, so the report signals possible returns rather than guaranteed availability.
Article Continues BelowMahomes completed 19 of 33 passes for 165 yards and an interception against Seattle as Kansas City dropped to 5-1.
The Chiefs failed to reach the red zone for the first time in his 153 career starts, including the postseason.
Kansas City won the teams’ Week 1 meeting 31-10 on Monday Night Football.
The Broncos host the rematch Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT on CBS at Empower Field at Mile High, with both defenders potentially returning but neither confirmed to play.