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RJ Harvey and Talanoa Hufanga Are Out, but Pat Surtain II Is Back for the Broncos vs. Chiefs
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- RJ Harvey and Talanoa Hufanga Are Out, but Pat Surtain II Is Back for the Broncos vs. Chiefs
Pat Surtain II is coming back for the Denver Broncos. RJ Harvey and Talanoa Hufanga aren't. Denver ruled out both on Friday for Sunday's rematch with the Chiefs, and Surtain (ankle) got through a third straight full practice without a game status, according to the team's injury report .
Four more starters are questionable after limited practices: receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest), safety Brandon Jones (hamstring), left tackle Garett Bolles (hip) and defensive lineman Zach Allen (hamstring), per The Denver Post's Parker Gabriel .
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Harvey (hip) was added to the report Thursday and didn't practice Friday. Sean Payton offered no update before the report came out.
Broncos' secondary gets Surtain back at the right time
Jan 25, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) makes a tackle on New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) during the second half in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Surtain hasn't played since hurting his ankle against the 49ers in Week 4, and his return lands in a week when the safeties are a mess. Hufanga has 23 tackles, two interceptions and a 66-yard pick-six in five games. Jones is tied with him for the team lead with two interceptions, and losing both would leave Denver without its starting safeties against Patrick Mahomes.
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Getting Surtain back also reshuffles the cornerbacks, where Kris Abrams-Draine has earned a role over Jahdae Barron during his absence.
On offense, Harvey's absence hurts more in the passing game than on the ground. He has just 87 rushing yards, but his 25 catches for 217 yards are second on the team behind Waddle's 276. Jonah Coleman took over the backfield in his return against Arizona, and J.K. Dobbins leads the team with 293 rushing yards.
Allen is the other name to watch. His 4.5 sacks lead the Broncos, and Kansas City brings Kenneth Walker III's No. 1 run game to town. Bolles' hip matters just as much in front of Bo Nix, and finding Garett Bolles' eventual successor is already a draft-season talking point in Denver.
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The 5-2 Broncos haven't forgotten the opener, a 31-10 loss Mike McGlinchey says they owe the Chiefs for . They'll try to settle it at Empower Field at Mile High with Surtain on the field and Hufanga in street clothes.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
