Jeff Legwold
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is aware of it isn't simple to easily say “subsequent man up” when the participant who will likely be lacking from the staff's protection Sunday can also be the league's reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr, however Joseph stated Thursday he is assured within the Broncos' plan to cope with the absence of cornerback Pat Surtain II.
“You are by no means nearly as good as you possibly can be with out your greatest participant, however that being stated I am assured in our group, it is a hand-picked roster,” Joseph stated. “Here is an opportunity for a younger man to play and form of make a reputation for himself.
“We have a recreation to win. I count on us to play effectively and I count on our younger guys who're taking part in instead of Pat, I count on them to play effectively, that is why they're right here.”
Surtain, who has missed simply two earlier video games in his profession – one as a rookie in 2021 and Week 7 final season, is predicted to overlook a number of video games with a pectoral damage he suffered simply earlier than halftime final Sunday. The Broncos haven't put Surtain on injured reserve up to now and the Broncos' first recreation with out him this season will Sunday in opposition to the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium.
Neither Joseph nor Sean Payton would supply too many specifics about how the Broncos would cope with the lack of their greatest participant in protection. However second-year cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine performed the second half on this previous Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys in Surtain's spot reverse of third-year cornerback Riley Moss.
Rookie Jahdae Barron, who was the Broncos' first-round choose this previous April, and fourth-year cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian have performed within the nickel and dime packages.
“(Abrams-Draine) has performed effectively for us up to now,” Joseph stated. ” … Now we have a plan to form of pull Pat's weight with a number of guys. It isn't anybody man, it is me calling it clear, it is our D-line offering a cross rush for our younger DBs and it is our younger DBs simply doing it proper.”
The Broncos will likely be aided considerably by the return of linebacker Dre Greenlaw to the combo. Greenlaw was suspended by the NFL for the win over the Cowboys after the league stated Greenlaw had confronted and “threatened” referee Brad Allen within the moments following the Broncos' comeback win over the New York Giants in Week 7.
Greenlaw had missed the primary six video games of the season with thigh accidents. He performed 21 snaps in opposition to the Giants and had six tackles.
“I simply should not put my teammates, my staff, in that place,” Greenlaw stated Thursday in his first public feedback for the reason that suspension. “Emotional recreation, first recreation again, simply turnt.”
Requested if throughout his attraction listening to with the league early final week he was given any specifics as to why he was suspended as an alternative of fined solely, Greenlaw stated: “They did not inform me, we confirmed clips or no matter, they'll make their choice. All you are able to do is do what they inform you.”
Greenlaw, who is predicted to play extra snaps this week in opposition to the Texans than he did in opposition to the Giants stated it was “very troublesome” to look at the Broncos' win final weekend.
