The Broncos could be at full strength at cornerback on Sunday
Oct 11, 2021, 3:29 PM
The Broncos have one of the most-talented, and expensive, secondaries in football. On Sunday, they could all be on the field together for the first time since Week 1.
Ronald Darby was activated off of the Injured Reserve list last week, but he was inactive against the Steelers. That could change when the Raiders roll into town.
“Hopefully, yes,” Vid Fangio said on Monday when asked if Darby will play on Sunday.
That’s good news. But it’s not the only positive injury update at the cornerback position.
Patrick Surtain was able to play against Pittsburgh, just a week after suffering a chest injury in Denver’s loss to Baltimore. That allowed the Broncos to give Darby one more week to recover.
“The reason we activated (Darby) was because there was still some question about Pat (Surtain II) with his injury,” Fangio explained. “If Pat wasn’t able to go, we would have activated (Darby). Pat was able to go, so we didn’t.”
That gives the veteran cornerback more time to get back into playing shape. It’ll allow Darby to better live up to the three-year, $30-million contract he signed with Denver in the offseason.
“He only had a little bit of practice because the medical people had him on a pitch count last week, which we adhered to,” Fangio said. “He didn’t quite feel he was ready and grooved in. We were hoping we didn’t have to play him, but knew we’d bring him up this week. We had the spot, so we did it for that reason.”
When the Broncos face the Raiders at Empower Field on Sunday, it should be all hands on deck. Darby, Surtain and Kyle Fuller will all play at cornerback, with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson at safety. That’s a lot of talent, a group finally back on the field together.
