Broncos Could Be Without Third Starting Defensive Back Against Seahawks

The Denver Broncos could be without a third starting defensive back when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's 23-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and was seen wearing a walking boot afterward.

Hufanga left the game in the third quarter and did not return. His availability for Thursday's game remains uncertain.

According to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Hufanga offered little clarity about his condition after the game.

Asked whether he expected to play against Seattle, Hufanga replied, "I don't know."

The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for Denver, which is already dealing with multiple injuries in its secondary.

Starting cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss both missed Sunday's game after suffering injuries against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4.

Surtain is dealing with an ankle injury, while Moss has been sidelined by a rib injury. Both were ruled out ahead of the Chargers game.

Neither cornerback has been confirmed available for Thursday, leaving Denver at risk of missing three starters in its secondary.

Hufanga recorded two tackles before leaving Sunday's game. He also forced a first-quarter fumble by Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar that fellow safety Brandon Jones recovered.

Denver capitalized on the turnover when J.K. Dobbins scored on a 2-yard run to give the Broncos an early 7-0 lead.

Devon Key stepped in at safety after Hufanga exited.

Denver had already turned to younger cornerbacks against Los Angeles, with Kris Abrams-Draine starting in place of Surtain and Jahdae Barron replacing Moss.

The injuries have increased the importance of Jones, who has developed a strong partnership with Hufanga, as detailed in a recent Roundtable report on Denver's veteran safety.

Despite the injuries, Denver's defense delivered another strong performance Sunday.

The Broncos forced three turnovers and held Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to 121 passing yards. The defense also came up with several crucial stops after Los Angeles took a 17-10 lead late in the third quarter.

Denver now faces a short week before hosting Seattle on Thursday Night Football, giving its injured defensive backs little time to recover.

The Broncos' first injury report of the week should provide a clearer picture of their availability.

For a team already leaning heavily on its defense, losing another starting defensive back would present a significant challenge.