Surtain, Hufanga Miss Practice Ahead of Seahawks

Pat Surtain II is not practicing, and Thursday is coming fast. The Denver Broncos cornerback sat out Tuesday's indoor walkthrough with an ankle injury for a second straight day, and safety Talanoa Hufanga was a DNP with his own ankle issue, the Denver Gazette reported. Both are lined up to miss Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks at Empower Field at Mile High.

That is a brutal short-week double hit for a secondary already patching holes. Denver is 3-2 and hosting a 3-2 Seattle team that just took a punch from San Francisco, and the Broncos may have to do it without their best cover guy and a starting safety.

Who is in and who is out

Surtain hurt the ankle in the final minute of the first half against the 49ers on Oct. 4, then missed the second half of that game and all of Sunday's 23-17 win at the Los Angeles Chargers. Hufanga got hurt late in the third quarter against the Chargers and did not return. When asked after that game if he would be ready for Seattle, Hufanga said, "I don't know."

There is one bit of good news. Riley Moss returned on a limited basis after missing the Chargers game with a rib injury. Moss had been hurt against San Francisco and sat out Sunday, so even a limited walkthrough is a step. Defensive end Sai'vion Jones was listed as a full participant Tuesday after being limited Monday.

Against the Chargers, Kris Abrams-Draine filled in for Surtain and Jahdae Barron for Moss. Devon Key took over when Hufanga went down. That is the depth chart Denver may have to roll out again on a national stage.

Seattle at Mile High

The Seahawks are coming off a 32-29 loss to the undefeated 49ers and bring Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who already has 583 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Denver's offense has been stuck at 19.4 points per game (26th), so the defense usually has to carry more of the night.

Without Surtain, that means whoever is opposite Abrams-Draine or Barron is about to see a lot of No. 11. Without Hufanga, the middle of the field gets thinner against a Seattle attack that can stretch you horizontally and then hit you deep.

Short week, big stage

Thursday designations will tell the final story, but Tuesday's walkthrough did not look like a comeback day for either ankle. Broncos fans have watched Surtain erase receivers for years. Right now they are watching the practice report and hoping No. 2 finds a way back onto the grass before the lights hit Empower Field.