The Denver Broncos’ secondary just lost another starter. Talanoa Hufanga is expected to miss multiple weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and one source estimated about two to three weeks, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
That timeline would keep Hufanga off injured reserve, but it lands at a bad moment. Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Hufanga both did not practice this week, according to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, and Riley Moss (ribs) has been limited. Seattle comes to Empower Field at Mile High on Thursday night with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold.
Do the Broncos need to make a trade?
Hufanga has been one of Denver’s best playmakers. He has two interceptions, including a pick-six, plus a sack and a forced fumble through five games, and he had already earned a strong PFF grade earlier this season. He played 44 of 67 defensive snaps against the Chargers before leaving, according to PFF.
Devon Key replaced him and struggled, allowing both targets thrown his way on 26 snaps with a 36.7 grade, according to PFF. Brandon Jones, the other starter, played all 67 snaps and posted an 88.4 grade.
For a two-to-three-week absence at safety, a trade is hard to justify. JL Skinner and Tycen Anderson are on the roster, and veteran Taylor Rapp is on the practice squad as an elevation option. Denver also has about $6.2 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, and we’ve already looked at a running back upgrade that would compete for that money before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Cornerback is where a deal would make more sense. If Surtain’s ankle lingers, the Broncos are leaning on Kris Abrams-Draine and 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron outside, and PFF listed the Jets’ Brandon Stephens among its 15 trade candidates, with a 74.4 coverage grade that ranked ninth at the position. A corner who can play now would help Denver more than a stopgap safety while Hufanga heals.
