Denver Broncos dealt critical blow on the injury front following huge Week 8 win

The Denver Broncos and those within Broncos Country are still riding high after the team's 20-point win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. 

With that win, the Broncos improved to 6-2 on the season and stayed atop the AFC West standings. It also marked the eighth time in a row that the Broncos have beaten the Cowboys. There's good reason for spirits to be high. 

Several teams have been put through the ringer when it comes to the injury department this season and the Broncos have been quite fortunate in that area... until Sunday. 

Pat Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was forced out of the game with what was reported to be a shoulder injury. On Monday, it was confirmed that he suffered a strained pectoral muscle and will miss a chunk of time, though it is unclear how much. 

Broncos 9News insider Mike Klis initially reported he would miss anywhere from four to six weeks. But Ian Rapoport of NFL Network had a different, and much better, outlook. 

If Surtain lands on injured reserve, he will miss a minimum of four games, but it seems as though there is a chance he could be back on the field much sooner. Regardless of how much time he is out, he will be greatly missed. He's arguably the best player on the entire team and certainly on defense. 

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While he's out, the Broncos will turn to Kris Abrams-Draine to fill in while Riley Moss and Jahdae Barron stay in their current roles. Abrams-Draine was a fifth-round pick in last year's draft. He has made one start in his career. 

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