Denver Broncos Lose Two Stars in First Half Against Houston Texans

The Denver Broncos could be short a pair of their young cornerstones for the foreseeable future. Cornerback Patrick Surtain III and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy both left in the first half of the Broncos' game against the Houston Texans and were declared out for the remainder of the afternoon early in the third quarter. Jeudy suffered a shoulder injury going to the ground trying to haul in a pass, and Surtain left the field clutching his shoulder in apparent pain. Given that the Broncos quickly and definitely declared them both unavailable despite the game being tied 6-6, it's likely both players are looking at potentially serious injuries that could extend into the coming weeks.
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The 15th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Broncos nabbed Jeudy hoping he could prove a dominant wide receiver on an offense in pursuit of identity in the post-Peyton Manning era. After an injury derailed his 2021 season, he was expected to provide a primary target for newly acquired quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022. Surtain, the ninth pick of the 2021 Draft, had already been forging a reputation for himself as one of the league's elite defensive backs at only 22 years old. Should they miss time, the Broncos could quickly fall behind in the ultra-competitive AFC West. They have games against the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders in the coming weeks.
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