Last week, Denver brought back All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain to bolster a previously wounded secondary.
A week later, the Broncos will be down a starting cornerback again. Riley Moss exited Sunday’s contest against the Carolina Panthers with after taking a big hit. He was ruled out for the second half with a concussion.
Denver will also be without top wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who also exited the contest in the second quarter before being ruled out with a concussion.
Coach Sean Payton said after the game he does not believe the Broncos suffered any serious injuries during the game, though, which bodes well for Waddle and Moss. With the Broncos’ bye week upcoming, the two players will have a week off to heal and recover ahead of the team’s Week 11 contest against the Raiders.
On a second-quarter tackle, Moss took a blow to the head and neck area while bringing down Panthers running back Trevor Etienne. He stayed down for a few minutes before walking off on his own. The cornerback headed straight to the locker room without a limp.
The Broncos corner has dealt with several rib injuries this season. He missed a game and a half with a rib injury he suffered in Week 4 against the San Francisco. He returned for the Broncos’ Week 6 game against the Seahawks but played sparingly.
Against the Panthers, Moss nearly intercepted a pass from Bryce Young down the right sideline. He dropped the pass and looked at his hands as if they had betrayed him.
Second-year player Jahdae Barron replaced Moss after the injury. Denver is already without reserve cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, who was ruled out of Sunday’s contest with an ankle injury.
Jaylen Waddle exits
Waddle was injured after sustaining a big hit from a Panthers’ cornerback in the second quarter. Prior to his exit, Waddle had recorded one catch for 22 yards and the Broncos were leading the Panthers 10-0.
Waddle went into the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. He did not return in the first half and the team ruled him out for the second half.
Defensive tackle’s injury not season-ending
The Broncos played reserve defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike on injured reserve after he injured his shoulder against Kansas City last week. He will miss at least the next four games, but Payton said Denver plans to get him back this year. He said the shoulder injury was not a season-ender.
Uwazurike is first eligible to return to action Dec. 13 when the Broncos travel to Las Vegas in Week 14. The fourth-year defensive lineman has played more than 300 snaps as a backup, recording 16 pressures and seven run stops, according to Pro Football Focus.
Reserves Jordan Jackson, Tyler Onyedim and Sai’vion Jones will likely play more during Uwazurike’s absence.
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