Broncos Safety Carted Off the Field vs. Raiders

Denver Broncos safety Caden Sterns was carted off the field on the first play of the second quarter of Sunday's season-opening tilt with the Las Vegas Raiders. Sterns seemed to suffer a leg injury after knifing down to attempt a tackle on Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.

Here is play where Sterns was hurt. Blitzed and leg kind of whipped on tackle but nothing major. Just looked like one of those non contact knee injuries. Stinks. #Denver7 #Broncos pic.twitter.com/r94ZLc1ZPp
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 10, 2023

What happens next for the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Sterns was almost immediately ruled out of returning.

It's a bad stroke of luck for the third-year safety, whom the Broncos have listed as a co-starter with Kareem Jackson. Denver's decision to bring Jackson back on a team-friendly one-year deal now seems prescient.

Sterns had an impressive rookie season after being drafted in the fifth round out of Texas in 2021. Then he suffered a hip injury in Year 2 that cost him most of the season.

The Broncos' hope was for Sterns to be Simmons' long-term safety partner, with Jackson now 35 years old in his 14th NFL season. There's still a chance of that happening, but an injury that would cost Sterns more than a few games would really hurt the odds of it becoming a reality.

With rookie sixth-rounder JL Skinner inactive, the Broncos will move forward on Sunday with Simmons, Jackson, Delarrin Turner-Yell, and Essang Bassey. However, Bassey is currently the Broncos' top nickel corner, so it'll be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Vance Joseph rolls with the punches.

We'll update you as soon as the extent of Sterns' injury is released.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!