HOUSTON — Broncos inside linebacker Alex Singleton was fired up during his team’s matchup against the Houston Texans, but it came with a steep price in Sunday’s 22-17 loss.
The Texans faced a fourth-and-2 in the first quarter when left tackle Laremy Tunsil was called for a false start. But the penalty didn’t matter because Singleton was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the same play after he got into a verbal altercation with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and pushed him.
Both players got into each other’s faces before the Texans stepped in to defend their teammate.
Singleton’s penalty gave Houston a first down inside the Broncos’ 10-yard line and the Texans responded. Running back Dameon Pierce scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown to take a 10-0 with four minutes left in the quarter.
Singleton stroke an unapologetic tone postgame, arguing that it was hypocritical for the officials to flag him but not Texans right guard Shaq Mason, who pushed the Broncos inside linebacker after the whistle on the same play.
“It was nothing. Just some pushing,” Singleton said. “… I mean they are going to call it (in favor) of the quarterback. You know how this league is.”
Stroud told reporters after the game that he wasn’t going to let anyone push him in his house.
“I didn’t like it. Like (comedian) Druski said, ‘I’m going to stand on business,’” Stroud said. “I’m glad my guys had my back. I’m not mad at that dude. I don’t get a lot of calls.”
Injury updates: The Broncos avoided a couple of injury scares Sunday afternoon. Starting cornerback Pat Surtain II and right guard Quinn Meinrez had to leave at different points in the game, but both players said they felt good after the game.
With 8:11 left in the first quarter, Surtain suffered an injury after his knee buckled when his foot got caught in the turf at NRG Stadium. He was down on the ground for an extended period before he got up and walked off to the sideline with trainers. Surtain returned to the field on Houston’s next offensive drive and told The Denver Post that he felt fine throughout the game.
“I’m (going) to see how I feel tomorrow but itap nothing too crazy,” Surtain said.
In the fourth quarter, Meinrez briefly went into the medical after he got a stinger in his left arm with 10:28 left in regulation. Luke Wattenberg replaced Meinrez at right guard before the third-year lineman returned to the field with 4:36 to go.
“I never had a stinger before,” Meinrez told The Post. “My left arm went numb and I couldn’t feel it. I was like ‘I didn’t know what this is so I’m just going to get off (the field).’”
Sutton’s touchdown: Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton’s bag of highlight reel catches got bigger against Houston. As Denver trailed 16-3 in the third, quarterback Russell Wilson stepped up and threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Sutton, who had two defenders around him.
“Those boys would’ve had to pin me to the ground for me not to make that catch,” said Sutton, who finished with two catches for 77 yards on seven targets.
Sutton’s touchdown was his ninth of the season and first outside of the red zone.
The Broncos made it clear early that they wanted to test Houston’s defense, which ranked 27th in passing yards allowed. Wilson threw deep to Sutton on back-to-back plays on Denver’s first drive but both attempts were incomplete.
Wilson finally made it count with five minutes left in third to cut Denver’s deficit to 16-10.
“I missed some opportunities early in the game (and) I frustrated myself because I’m capable of making those plays,” Sutton said. “It was nice to get some momentum (and) thatap what we pride ourselves in our (wide receivers room). Being the group that turns regular milk into chocolate milk. If I was able to make some of those plays early in the game, who knows (what could’ve happened)?”
DiNucci inactive despite being promoted to active roster: The Broncos made an interesting move Saturday when they elevated quarterback Ben DiNucci from the practice squad to the active roster. However, he was among seven players inactive for the game.
Head coach Sean Payton didn’t comment on the move, but it could mean one of two things: Either another team tried to sign DiNucci and the Broncos prevented it by promoting him to the active roster or the team wanted to reward the young signal caller with a game check.
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