Report: Broncos safety Caden Sterns expected to be out for the season

During the Las Vegas Raiders’ narrow 17-16 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Broncos safety Caden Sterns was carted off the field with an injury. On Monday, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided an update on Sterns’ status.

“Caden Sterns is expected to be out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, source says,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “The young DB had been primed for increased playing time before the unfortunate injury.”

The loss is a major blow to the Broncos’ secondary. Sterns went down on the first play of the second quarter on Sunday after attempting to take down Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The injury is just another stroke of bad luck for the third-year pro.

After the Broncos selected Sterns in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Sterns had a fantastic rookie season. Appearing in 15 games with two starts, Sterns recorded two interceptions, five pass deflections, two tackles for loss and 28 total tackles.

Sterns entered his second season with high hopes. Nonetheless, those hopes were quickly grounded after the former Texas standout suffered a debilitating hip injury, which cost him most of the season. Sterns ultimately only saw time in five games last season. Impressively, he was still able to record two interceptions.

Caden Sterns’ impressive history

While Sterns also struggled with injuries in college, they didn’t prevent him from boasting an excellent career. In three seasons at Texas, Sterns appeared in 29 games with 28 career starts.

While with UT, Sterns recorded five interceptions, 13 pass deflections, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and 172 total tackles. Texas recruited Sterns out of its backyards. He was a five-star in high school and the No. 20 player in the 2018 recruiting cycle, per On3 Industry Ratings.

Sterns signed a four-year, $3.81 million contract with the Broncos in May 2021. The standout safety will once again be in rehab instead of the stadium this season. Broncos head coach was hopeful for Sterns’ 2023 campaign.

“I think that he’s smart, and that’s a good trait to have at his position,” Payton said, per Broncos Wire. “He [also] has instincts. That was a heck of a play [at practice on June 8] down the field and staying on top. For him staying healthy and then taking a little bit of this momentum — confidence is born really out of demonstrated ability.

“You can hope for confidence, or say, ‘I’m going to be confident,’ but it’s only born from demonstrated ability. Plays like that—  you guys have all seen a preseason game where someone excels and then all of a sudden, you have a different player. You can point to a certain moment. He’s one of those type of players.”