Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain had an uncharacteristic performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Coming off a game in which he did not allow a single reception and was only targeted once in Week 1, Surtain’s was targeted nine times in coverage on Sunday, according to Noah Compton of Stampede Blue. On those targets, PS2 allowed seven receptions for 63 yards. He also had one pass breakup and a game-high nine solo tackles.
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It undoubtedly didn’t help that Surtain twisted his ankle early in the game, but Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was targeting the reigning Defensive Player of the Year even before that injury. The final tally of nine targets marked the second-most of PS2’s career in a single game.
“I think at times when you play outside left, outside right — and Pat has shown the ability to come inside — I think there’s a progression in a passing offense,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday. “I think targeted is the word you have to use because that’s where the ball went. Do I think in those Wednesday nights and Thursday nights in game plan meetings, they were out to target Patrick? I don’t think that was the case. I think a lot of it is the progression of a route.
“That’ll happen a lot with us. There are certain times where we’re… If I’m going to run two go routes, we’re going to work on one corner or the other. When you get into some interior routes on third down, second down where you’re working maybe a progression read, I think a lot of it ends up being that’s where the ball ended up going. Now I think he was able to come back, and he felt comfortable enough to come back, but I’m sure the technique he’ll look at today he’ll want to clean up on a handful of those plays.”
Payton didn’t seem too concerned. PS2 will aim to bounce back in Week 3 when Denver goes on the road to face the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Surtain told the Denver Post’s Parker Garbiel after the game that his ankle injury isn’t major, but it is something he’ll monitor in the coming days. Denver’s scheduled to practice for the first time this week on Wednesday.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Broncos CB Pat Surtain struggled through ankle injury in Week 2