Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga is expected to miss multiple weeks after leaving Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers with an ankle injury, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday. Hufanga did not practice in the shortened week leading up to the Broncos' Thursday night game against the Seattle Seahawks. One source estimated he could miss two to three weeks, depending on how he recovers, which could extend his absence through the Broncos' Week 10 bye.
Hufanga's impact on the defense has been especially evident over the past three weeks. In the win over the Los Angeles Rams to close out September, he became just the fifth safety in NFL history to record two interceptions, an interception return for a touchdown and a sack in the same game. In the first quarter against the Chargers, he forced a fumble on tight end Charlie Kolar and recovered the ball, leading to the Broncos' first touchdown four plays later. Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that turnovers are purposeful and that those plays create "huge, huge swings of momentum."
Hufanga was injured with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left in the third quarter after a tackle on Chargers running back Omarion Hampton alongside defensive tackle D.J. Jones. He did not return and did not participate in on-field work this week. He ranks fourth on the team with 23 tackles.
Devon Key, a first-team All Pro selection as a special-teamer last season, has played Hufanga's safety spot alongside Brandon Jones and is expected to start Thursday against the Seahawks. Hufanga's absence, combined with cornerback Pat Surtain II's ankle injury, which will keep him out Thursday night, limits the Broncos' ability to use their six-defensive-back dime package at times.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing