SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II is believed to have avoided a serious injury after missing the second half of the Broncos’ game on Sunday, multiple sources told The Denver Post.

The three-time All-Pro defensive back suffered a non-contact injury at the end of the first half in the Broncos’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He did not return to the game with an ankle injury, the team announced. Surtain’s achilles is believed be intact, although he will receive more testing over the coming days, sources told The Post. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero first reported the news.

The injury occurred at the end of the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Surtain was playing a deep zone coverage when he appeared to take a false step. The cornerback immediately started hopping on his left left after he pulled up limping out of a break. He went down to the ground holding his right ankle after the play was over, staying on the ground for several minutes.

He headed straight to the locker room after getting up with the assistance of two staff members. Surtain was not seen in the locker room after the game by reporters and coach Sean Payton provided little update on his status after the game.

Surtain has earned three All-Pro selections in his career. The Alabama product is consistently rated as of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. If Surtain misses any significant time, the Broncos would likely turn to former first-round pick and reserve defensive back Jahdae Barron to replace him. Barron and reserve cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine replaced Surtain and Riley Moss — who missed the second half of Sunday’s game with a rib injury — for the entirety of the second half.

Surtain missed three games last season with a partially torn pectoral muscle. He returned in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders. The Broncos went 3-0 in the games without him.

Payton is scheduled to speak to the media Monday morning. The Broncos’ first practice viewing available to the media is Wednesday afternoon.

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