Broncos CB Riley Moss Has Core Muscle Surgery, Out 'About 4 Weeks'

Speaking Tuesday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton deferred a question on the absence of third-round rookie cornerback Riley Moss, insisting he'll "let [the media] know when it's time."

The time came 24 hours later, and the mystery was put to rest. Payton revealed that Moss, who missed his third straight training camp practice, underwent surgery to repair a core muscle issue and will be sidelined for "about four weeks."

"It’s kind of a sports hernia. It’s not too uncommon," Payton explained Wednesday. "He had that yesterday, and it went well."

Denver traded up to draft Moss with the 83rd overall pick in April's draft. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound coverman became the apple of the team's eye following a decorated career at Iowa where he twice earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and, in 2021, took home the Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award.

Moss, too, had a terrific showing at February's NFL Scouting Combine, blazing the 40-yard dash (4.45 seconds) and 10-yard split (1.48 seconds). He also logged a 39-inch vertical jump, which ranked sixth among all draft-eligible cornerbacks.

"We had him in here on a visit. We loved the makeup," Broncos general manager George Paton said after selecting Moss. "He aced the offseason, the Senior Bowl and the combine, and then we brought him in on a visit. The coaches met with him. They Zoomed, and we spent a lot of time with this player. We feel really good about the trade.”

Moss was positioned to operate as the Broncos' fourth corner behind Patrick Surtain II, Damarri Mathis, and K'Waun Williams. Now he'll be behind the eight-ball, having his entire preseason — invaluable reps — taken away in advance of a likely Week 1 return.

Denver moved quickly to fill his spot on the depth chart, however temporary, by signing former Giants CB Fabian Moreau, a seventh-year pro whom the club had targeted prior to Moss' injury.

“He played quite a bit of snaps last year in New York," Payton said. "He’s smart, and he’s one of those players that you know exactly what you are getting. I think there is a physicality to how he plays. He’s excelled in the kicking game, and he is someone who is smart. We’ve looked at him for a while now, and we’ve had a lot of good feedback from places he has been. He had a good visit, and his workout was good. We felt good him and especially good about his football IQ.”