The Broncos’ resurgence on defense and special teams this year netted the franchise a trio of starters in next month’s Pro Bowl.
Cornerback Pat Surtain II, safety Justin Simmons and rookie wide receiver and return specialist Marvin Mims Jr. were each named starters Wednesday in the NFL’s unveiling of its all-star game rosters. Mims’ inclusion is as a return man.
Surtain, the star third-year player, was a unanimous selection as a first-team All-Pro last year and is in line for similarly lofty recognition this year.
He put together one of his most dominant outings of the season Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he lined up across rookie receiver Quinton Johnson on 32 of the 34 routes Johnson ran (16 in press coverage) and allowed two catches for 20 yards.
Surtain has consistently not only done quality work against opponents’ best receivers this year, but he’s given coordinator Vance Joseph a foundational block upon which to tailor each game plan. He also made the Pro Bowl last year.
Simmons missed time during training camp and early in the season with a groin/hip injury but once he hit full health after the first four weeks, the Broncos’ defense took off. That’s not a coincidence. Simmons continues to play as one of the best safeties in the NFL in his eighth season and has logged three interceptions so far this year.
It is his second Pro Bowl nod — the other came in 2020 — and he’s also been named a second-team All-Pro three times.
Mims, of course, is in his first professional season but quickly turned himself into one of the most dangerous returners in the game. He took a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown Week 3 at Miami and has been dangerous almost every time he fields a punt.
His 17.4-yard punt return average is the best mark in the NFL among players with at least 10 chances. Perhaps his best work came in a Week 10 Monday night win at Buffalo, where each of his three punt returns went for 18 yards or more and set up each of the Broncos’ three touchdown drives in an eventual 24-22 win.
Mims also averaged 26.3 yards per kick return.
The Broncos also have a pair of third alternates for the Pro Bowl in right guard Quinn Meinerz and fullback Michael Burton.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke Wednesday before the rosters were announced, but said it’s always an “exciting” day.
“I like to get out ahead of it and, usually, I’ll reach out to those players to congratulate them and then reach out to those players that didn’t get in. That’s kind of been what I’m used to doing.”
Among those perhaps Payton might have reached out to on the left-out side of the ledger: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who is tied for third in the NFL with 10 receiving touchdowns but has not put up big numbers in catches (58) or yards (770).
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.