Pat Surtain II Update: Chiefs Week Now Looks Like the Target

Broncos Country, here's the latest on the best cover corner in the building.

Pat Surtain II has now missed two straight games with the ankle injury he suffered against the 49ers, and the long break before Week 7 had a lot of people circling an Oct. 25 return at Arizona. The newest reporting points one week later.

Per NBC Sports, NFL on Prime's James Palmer reports that a return in Week 8 against the Chiefs is more likely for Surtain than Week 7 against the Cardinals. Palmer also cleared up how it happened: it was not a non-contact injury, as first reported. Surtain hurt the ankle two plays before he left that game.

Our Take: This is the smart play, and it's honestly good news. Denver kept Surtain off injured reserve from day one, which told you the team expected a short absence, and early ESPN reporting relayed by Broncos Wire pegged it at roughly two weeks. Aiming for Chiefs week isn't a setback so much as making sure he's fully right for the biggest game on the calendar. You don't want Surtain at 80 percent in the desert when Kansas City comes to town a week later.

The defense has earned some patience, too. Per CBS Sports, Jahdae Barron or Kris Abrams-Draine were in line to fill the outside spot with Riley Moss (ribs) listed questionable for Thursday, and Denver still walked out of that one with a win over Seattle.

What to watch: Surtain's practice status when the Broncos get back to work ahead of Arizona. A full practice that week would put Week 7 back on the table.

Sources: NBC Sports, Broncos Wire, CBS Sports