DENVER -- Over and over again this season, Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II's teammates have said how much he means to the team's defense when he's on the field, and Sunday those same teammates noted how much impact it had when he left the game with a concussion.
"We've got to be able to continue to play, come together, have some fire,'' Broncos cornerback Riley Moss said after Denver's 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Empower Field at Mile High. "We didn't do that, it was kind of a dark cloud over our heads, and we've got to get out of that, just a little funk. That's something we've got to work on.''
It's something the Broncos will have to adjust to quickly given that they play the Saints on Thursday night in New Orleans. Even if Surtain had the smoothest of recoveries through the league's concussion protocol, it is unlikely he would be medically cleared for the game. Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed after Sunday's game that Surtain was officially in the protocol.
Surtain would have to be cleared by an independent neurologist for each increase in activity, from the start of light conditioning to reentering practice to full practice participation to being medically approved for a game. The Broncos' three games following Thursday night are at home against Carolina on Oct. 27, at Baltimore on Nov. 3 and at Kansas City on Nov. 10.
"Pat is one of, he is the best corner in the NFL,'' defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers said. "But guys have to step up when that happens with anybody. Again, I'm going to put it on the defensive line first and foremost -- we've got to play better when something like that happens. And we didn't.''
On a first-and-10 from Denver's 31-yard line -- the Broncos' first defensive snap of the day after quarterback Bo Nix ended the team's opening possession with an interception -- Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert looked right and targeted rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
The pass was incomplete, but Surtain's right arm got pinned under McConkey as the two players fell to the ground. Pinned against the wide receiver, Surtain's helmet then slammed into the ground as well as they rolled over.
Surtain immediately put his hands on his head as Denver's medical staff checked him on the field. He walked off the field with the trainers, holding his hands against the sides of his helmet, and was briefly examined in the blue medical tent on the sideline before going to the locker room.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection was, per testing in the league's concussion protocol, officially ruled out for the rest of the game later in the first quarter. Herbert then feasted on one of the league's best defenses for the remainder of the first half -- he was 18-of-26 passing for 184 yards and a touchdown before halftime.
Surtain's exit didn't alter the game plan much, Moss said, though the Broncos were forced to move people around in the secondary. Some defensive players said they didn't believe they could use their five- and six-man pressure packages as much in the rush.
The team's nickel corner, Ja'Quan McMillian, moved to Surtain's left cornerback spot in the base defense. McMillian shifted back into the slot when the Broncos went to the nickel (five defensive backs), and seventh-year veteran Levi Wallace, who the team signed in free agency during the offseason, took Surtain's left cornerback spot.
That is likely how the Broncos will move forward if Surtain misses an extended period. That would put a greater snap count on McMillian.
The Broncos were far more settled in the alignment in the second half as Hebert, protecting a three-score lead for much of the remainder of the game, was 3-of-8 passing for 53 yards and the Chargers had 104 total yards after halftime.
"[Surtain's exit] is just something you feel, and we can't let that happen, we can't let adversity sway how we feel,'' Moss said. " ... We've got to be able to get through. We're a younger team, so being able to be more mature and getting over that adversity. [At halftime] we all looked at each other in the locker room and were like, 'Guys, we're better than this.'''
Surtain has repeatedly stifled the top receivers in the offenses the Broncos have faced this season, including Seattle's DK Metcalf, Tampa Bay's Mike Evans and the Jets' Garrett Wilson. He had his second career two-interception game last week in the Broncos' win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and was named the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week.