In a game that was barely underway, the Denver Broncos faced a setback as cornerback Damarri Mathis suffered an injury on only the second play of the game against the Arizona Cardinals. The unfortunate incident occurred a mere 52 seconds into the matchup, as Mathis’s right leg buckled underneath him during a tackle attempt on Cardinals’ running back Tony Jones.
The sight of Mathis writhing in pain, clutching his lower right leg, was certainly a worrying one for Broncos fans. It was clear that the severity of the injury required immediate attention, as Mathis had to be carted off the field and taken to the X-ray room for further evaluation.
The official word from the Broncos’ camp was that Mathis was listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury. This news set off alarms for a defense that was already facing competition at the cornerback position, with Mathis vying for a starting spot alongside Patrick Surtain, Jr.
Mathis, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, has been a consistent presence for the Broncos, appearing in 33 games with 17 starts and compiling 100 tackles and pass breakups. His absence would surely be felt if he were to miss any significant time due to this injury.
As the Broncos regrouped and continued to battle against the Cardinals, the spotlight shifted to Riley Moss, who was now in prime position to secure the starting role in Mathis’s absence. The competition between Mathis and Moss had been fierce throughout training camp, but it seemed that Moss was now poised to take full advantage of this opportunity and solidify his place in the starting lineup.
While the outcome of Mathis’s injury remained uncertain, the Broncos knew that they would need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome this early setback. Head Coach Vic Fangio acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but we have full confidence in our players to step up when called upon. We’ll need everyone to elevate their game in Mathis’s absence and continue to compete at a high level.”
The Denver Broncos may have faced adversity early in the game, but they remained determined to push forward and overcome whatever obstacles came their way. As the season progressed, the true test of their resilience and adaptability would be put to the test, with Mathis’s injury serving as a rallying cry for the team to band together and rise above the challenges that lay ahead.