Surtain saw more action than he’d faced in nearly three years

Pat Surtain II usually doesn’t see the football soar his way often.

But that wasn’t the case Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, when quarterback Daniel Jones had no hesitation about throwing in the direction of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Jones threw towards Surtain’s coverage nine times, completing seven passes for 77 yards, per data compiled by Pro Football Focus. No Broncos defender was targeted more often in Sunday’s 29-28 loss.

Michael Pittman Jr. caught three passes for 28 yards; Alec Pierce grabbed two for 18 yards. Tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell each had one catch apiece, for 9 and 8 yards, respectively.

But Broncos coach Sean Payton didn’t think that going after Surtain was specifically the Colts’ intent.

“I think there’s a progression in a passing offense. I think ‘targeted’ is the word you have to use because that’s where the ball went. Do I think in those Wednesday nights and Thursday nights in gameplan meetings they were out to target Patrick? I don’t think that was the case,” Payton said.

“I think a lot of it is the progression of a route. That’ll happen a lot with us.”

“… When you get into some interior routes on third down, second down where you’re working maybe a progression read, I think a lot of it ends up being that’s where the ball ended up going.”

SURTAIN DEALT WITH AN ANKLE INJURY

Surtain briefly left the game in the second quarter, but returned, describing the injury as “nothing crazy.”

“I sort of twisted it a little bit,” he said.

But he refused to lean on that a reason for a game that saw him targeted more often than at any time since Week 4 of 2022 at Las Vegas, per PFF data. That was also the last time he allowed seven receptions — five of which were corralled by Davante Adams.

“I mean, that [the ankle injury] is no excuse,” Sustain said. “When I’m out there, I expect to, you know, play to the best of my ability.

“So, I had a Little injury here and there, but I got back in feeling confident.”

Added Payton: “Now I think he was able to come back, and he felt comfortable enough to come back, but I’m sure the technique he’ll look at [Monday] he’ll want to clean up on a handful of those plays,” Payton said.

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