The Denver Broncos did not place cornerback Pat Surtain (pec) or tight end Nate Adkins (knee) on injured reserve on Tuesday, which seems to be initial good news for both players.
Players who go on injured reserve have to sit out four games before being eligible to return. Because the Broncos have a bye coming up, a four-game absence would stretch into a nearly five-week absence. So if the team does not place Surtain and Adkins on IR, it’s presumably a sign that they expect them to potentially return before Nov. 30.
DNVR’s Zac Stevens tweeted Monday that there’s “hope” that Surtain won’t be placed on IR so he can return sooner than four games. Up next on Denver’s schedule is a road game against the Houston Texans, followed by home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, then a bye in Week 12. After that, the Broncos will go on the road to face the Washington Commanders in Week 13.
If placed on IR, Surtain would have to miss those four games before a potential return against the Raiders in Week 14. As for Adkins, he strained his PCL on Sunday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. His timeline is also uncertain, but the Broncos have already started looking for replacement tight ends.
It’s still possible that Denver could place one or both players on IR later this week, but the fact that neither Surtain nor Adkins has been given that designation yet could be an encouraging sign. If the Broncos plan to place either on IR, such a move would happen by Saturday so Sunday’s game would count toward a four-game absence.
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