The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have set their final injury reports for Thursday Night Football, and both defenses will be short-handed. Seattle ruled out running back Zach Charbonnet and linebackers Drake Thomas and Chazz Surratt, while Denver will play without cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
The good news for the visitors is at receiver. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was upgraded to a full participant on Wednesday after two limited days with an ankle injury and carries no game status, which means he is set to play. Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 583 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through five weeks.
Seattle (3-2) visits Denver (3-2) at Empower Field at Mile High on Thursday, October 15, at 8:15 p.m. EDT on Prime Video. Because of the short week, the Monday and Tuesday reports were estimates; Wednesday’s report carried the final designations.
Seahawks: three out, everyone else cleared
Thomas (ankle) and Surratt (calf) did not practice on any of the three reports. Thomas was hurt in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers but returned for the second half of that game; Surratt will miss a third straight game with the calf problem.
Charbonnet (knee) was limited all week but will not be activated from the physically unable to perform list for Thursday. He has been practicing since the club designated him for return on October 1 as he works back from a torn ACL, so Seattle will need to activate him next week if he is to play this season.
No other Seahawks on the active roster received a designation. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams (ankle) and backup quarterback Drew Lock (right forearm) were limited on all three reports but are cleared, and running back George Holani (ribs, knee) and guard Beau Stephens (shoulder) finished the week as full participants.
Seattle also reversed a roster move from earlier in the week. The club signed running back Velus Jones back to the active roster and released receiver Irv Charles a day after doing the opposite. Charles rejoined the practice squad and could still be elevated for Thursday’s game.
Broncos: Surtain and Hufanga out, Moss questionable
Surtain and Hufanga were non-participants on all three reports with ankle injuries and were ruled out. Surtain has not played since hurting the ankle against the 49ers in Week 4. Hufanga left Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the third quarter, and Jeremy Fowler reported this week that he is expected to miss two to three weeks.
Cornerback Riley Moss (ribs) is questionable after being limited on all three reports. He was hurt in the same Week 4 game against San Francisco and sat out the win in Los Angeles. If he can’t go, Kris Abrams-Draine is next in line to start opposite Jahdae Barron.
Safety Brandon Jones (foot), defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones (shoulder) and guard Ben Powers (biceps) were full participants Wednesday and have no game status, so all three are available. Brandon Jones and Ja’Quan McMillian are the last healthy starters from Denver’s original secondary; Devon Key filled in for Hufanga against the Chargers.
Final game statuses
- Seahawks, out: RB Zach Charbonnet (knee), LB Chazz Surratt (calf), LB Drake Thomas (ankle)
- Seahawks, no designation: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle, full Wednesday), DT Leonard Williams (ankle), QB Drew Lock (right forearm), RB George Holani (ribs, knee), G Beau Stephens (shoulder)
- Broncos, out: CB Pat Surtain II (ankle), S Talanoa Hufanga (ankle)
- Broncos, questionable: CB Riley Moss (ribs)
- Broncos, no designation: S Brandon Jones (foot), DL Sai’vion Jones (shoulder), G Ben Powers (biceps)
Why it matters
The headline matchup stays intact: the league’s leading receiver against a Denver secondary without its All-Pro corner and its starting safety. Seattle will have to cover the middle of the field without two of its linebackers, which puts more on the rest of the group against Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense. The Broncos will wear their throwback uniforms for the first time this season.
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