The scariest moment of the Denver Broncos‘ 33-13 home preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers on Friday night came from an unexpected place — starting outside cornerback Riley Moss.
Moss, entering his 3rd season as the full-time starter opposite NFL All-Pro Patrick Surtain II, exited the game in the 1st quarter with what appeared to be a rib injury.
“Riley Moss looked like he was in a lot of pain as he went to the locker room,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on his official X account on Friday. “Rib injury.”
“Riley Moss went into the blue tent and now going to the locker room after what seemed to be a forced fumble caused by (Surtain),” Sleeper Broncos wrote on its official X account. “Hopefully they are just being overly cautious with him.”
“Incredibly annoying drive and start to the game,” Broncos fan Mile High Greco wrote on his official X account. “Worst part for sure is the Riley Moss injury. He’s way better than most of Broncos Country thinks. Need it to not be serious.”
What Broncos Said About Riley Moss Injury
Broncos head coach Sean Payton was understandably vague about Moss’ injury following the loss to the Packers.
“Good,” Payton said when asked how Moss was doing. “We’ll see.”
Moss, a 2023 3rd-round pick (No. 83 overall), dealt with injury issues late in his 1st season as a starter, missing 3 games due to a sprained knee.
Critical Seasons for Riley Moss’ NFL Future
The Broncos might want to keep Moss on the sideline for their final preseason game — even if he’s OK — as a precaution.
Not only is Moss incredibly critical to any success the Broncos might have this season, but it’s also about to be the most important season of his career.
The Broncos have been dragging their feet on an extension for Moss, who could very well command $20 million per season in the open market. In 2026, he’s in the final season of his 4-year, $5.44 million rookie contract.
“The Broncos have a list of starters poised for unrestricted free agency after the 2026 season: tight end Evan Engram, guard Ben Powers, safety Brandon Jones, cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr.,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on June 24. “But Moss has played 1,924 snaps over the past two seasons, more than any other Denver player in that timeframe, and he has held off 2025 first-rounder Jahdae Barron thus far. Barron will be the expected solution if the Broncos don’t keep both McMillian and Moss moving forward. The Broncos have publicly expressed the importance of having both in their defense, but there hasn’t been much movement for extensions. Denver … has decisions to make with three secondary starters in the nickel package (Moss, Jones and McMillian).”
Moss was one of the NFL’s top earners in the league’s annual performance-based incentives program following the 2025 season. It’s the bonus system the league uses to pay players with low salaries who play high snap counts.
Moss scored a $1.136 million bonus after starting all 17 games in 2025. It ranked Moss No. 12 among all NFL players who received bonuses, with Chicago Bears cornerback Nahson Wright coming in 1st with a $1.441 million bonus.
Broncos Await Word on CB Riley Moss Following Preseason Injury