CB Surtain takes AFC honor in stride, stays focused on Chiefs
Broncos rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II has more pressing matters to tend to than celebrating the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award he won Wednesday.
While acknowledging “it’s a pretty good accomplishment for me and this team,” Surtain clearly had taken to heart safety Justin Simmons’ admonition to put aside the team’s big win over the Chargers last weekend and go all-in so they might come out of Arrowhead Stadium with a rare win Sunday night.
The Chiefs (7-4) are favored to beat the Broncos (6-5) for the 12th consecutive time, but if Denver can beat quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the first time in eight tries, they’ll return home atop the AFC West, a view they haven’t had in December since 2015.
Upending the Chiefs was top of mind for new general manager George Paton when he selected the speedy, 6-foot-2, 202pound cornerback from Alabama with the ninth overall pick in the draft last April.
Paton bypassed a bunch of quarterbacks and doeverything linebacker Micah Parsons, but he explained that Surtain was his target all along and he talked about how he got to know his father, Pat Surtain Sr., who played 11 years in the NFL in Miami and Kansas City, when both were working for the Dolphins.
It was the son’s speedsize combination that really caught his eye. It’s so uncommon in cornerbacks, who are usually fast or long but not both.
Surtain might prove just the antidote to Kansas City’s speedy receiver Tyreek Hill or to the Chiefs’ physical tight end Travis Kelce, both of whom have long tormented
Denver’s defenses.
About the only time Surtain’s face brightened up at the podium Wednesday was when he envisioned facing all that talent directed by Mahomes.
“Yeah, they got speed like crazy,” Surtain said. “Like, world class speed. We know what we’re going against, we’re going to put our track shoes on.”
Surtain has been everything the front office and coaching staff envisioned. He’s broken up or intercepted 11 passes so far, including a pair of fourthquarter picks of Justin Herbert in the Broncos’ 28-13 win over the Chargers.
He picked off Herbert in the end zone early in the fourth quarter and sealed the win by returning his second interception 70 yards for a touchdown.
Surtain reached a top speed of 22.07 mph on his pick-6, according to Next Gen Stats, the fastest by a defensive back with the ball in his hands in the past five years.
ELSEWHERE
Buccaneers: Believed to be close to returning from an ankle injury as recently as last week, Tampa Bay veteran receiver
Antonio Brown isn’t expected back for Sunday’s key divisional game at Atlanta. Coach Bruce Arians said he doubts Brown will return to practice before the week is over, citing foot injuries beyond the ankle sprain.
Giants: New York quarterback Daniel Jones practiced on a limited basis despite a strained neck and he hopes to play this weekend against the Dolphins in Miami. “I think it’s just sore,” Jones said Wednesday after a short workout.
Seahawks: Attempting to beef up an injury-riddled backfield that on Monday night was held to its fewest rushing yards of the season, the Seahawks are bringing in veteran Adrian Peterson for a visit and could sign him this week, a league source confirmed to The Seattle Times. Peterson, who turned 36 in March, is the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history with 14,902 yards and is said to be visiting Seattle on Wednesday.
He played in three games for the Titans earlier this season after Tennessee lost Derrick Henry to injury. He gained 82 yards on 27 carries in three games before being waived on Nov. 23.
Chiefs: Veteran offensive lineman Kyle Long was on the practice field as Kansas City returned from its bye to begin preparing for Denver on Sunday night. “He’s had a couple good weeks of practice.
He’s easing his way back in,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He’s going to practice today. I think the term is ‘activated onto the roster,’ then we’ll just see as the week goes on, how it goes.’’
Texans: Houston canceled practice and all other in-person activities on the advice of their medical team because some players weren’t feeling well. Coach David Culley said they have not had any positive COVID-19 tests.