Broncos safety Hufanga out 2-3 weeks: report

The Broncos got some bad news with safety Talanoa Hufanga’s ankle injury, but as is the case for cornerback Pat Surtain II and wide receiver Pat Bryant, it could have been worse.

Hufanga will miss “multiple” weeks due to the injury he incurred late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported, adding that one source offered a two-to-three week estimate.

That’s a time frame that would sideline him for Thursday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks and next week’s game at Arizona, but it would open the door for a return as soon as the Week 8 rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs if his timeline is on the short end of the estimated range.

With Hufanga injured last Sunday, the Broncos used Devon Key, who was an All-Pro selection last year as a special teamer, in his place.

“Dev’s a guy, he’s a pro’s pro. He can come in at any point — whether it’s the whole game, whether he has to come in for somebody for a bit injury-wise — and nothing ever falls off the plate with Dev,” safety Brandon Jones said.

“He comes in, not a lost step. He’s a really big communicator. Plays with a lot of confidence, a lot of swagger, so, I’m never surprised, nor do I ever freak out if Dev’s in the game.”

The challenge Thursday night for the Broncos will be facing a Seahawks receiving corps featuring Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL in receiving yardage and touchdown catches so far this season. They’ll likely do so without both Hufanga and cornerback Pat Surtain II, who hasn’t practiced since being injured Oct. 4 against the San Francisco 49ers.

But if all goes well, the Broncos will have them back soon. And that’s good news for a team that still has plenty of land mines on the schedule ahead.

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