DENVER -- Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II left the Broncos' 44-24 win over the Cowboys on Sunday just before halftime because of a left shoulder injury.
The two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection will undergo tests, including an MRI, to determine the severity of the injury.
Any potential absence will be a massive loss for Denver; defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has gone as far as to say, "Everything we do starts with Pat.''
"Obviously we hope he's healthy, obviously he's a big part of what we do,'' linebacker Justin Strnad said. "Hopefully he's healthy and ... we'll adjust if we need to. But hopefully he's healthy.''
With 22 seconds left in the first half, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed a 7-yard pass to receiver George Pickens. On the tackle, Surtain's left arm and shoulder twisted awkwardly as he tried to pull Pickens to the ground. As he walked to the locker room at halftime, Surtain could be seen grimacing as he held his left shoulder with his right hand and he didn't come out of the locker room at the start of the third quarter.
It was a difficult day for Surtain; he left the game earlier because of a lower right leg injury.
Kris Abrams-Draine, a 2024 fifth-round pick, played in Surtain's spot for the rest of the game. He finished with eight tackles in the second half.
Asked about Abrams-Draine's performance, as well as that of the secondary overall, after Surtain exited, Broncos coach Sean Payton said, "I thought, shoot, pretty good, pretty good.''
He then added: "You don't like to see that happen, you never know when a player goes down. ... Not going to discuss any of the players who were injured at all but was proud of the guys who had to go play when someone went down."
The Broncos twice sacked Prescott, who for only the second time this season was held without a touchdown pass.
"[Abrams-Draine] came in and did a great job,'' Denver cornerback Riley Moss said. "... We had a great week of practice, maybe the best in my [three] years here, and it showed.''
If Surtain sits out time, the Broncos' set of cornerbacks will be among the youngest in the league. Abrams-Draine is in his second year, and Jahdae Barron, who had his first interception of the season Sunday, is a rookie. Nickel corner Ja'Quan McMillian and Moss are each in their fourth seasons.
Moss was flagged for pass interference twice in a three-play span in the third quarter Sunday.
Surtain has sat out only two games in his career, one as a rookie in 2021 and one last season.