It’s now official. Pat Surtain II will miss his third career NFL game.

The Broncos on Friday ruled out the cornerback for Sunday’s game at Houston. It had been expected all week he wouldn’t play after suffering a strained left pectoral muscle late in the first half in last Sunday’s 44-24 win over Dallas.

The Broncos also listed as out wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion), tight end Nate Adkins (knee) and safety P.J. Locke (neck). Like Surtain, Mims and Adkins were hurt against the Cowboys and did not practice all week. Locke was limited Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday’s workout.

“Just play ball,’’ slot back Ja’Quan McMillian said of Surtain being out. “That’s all.”

Second-year man Kris Abrams-Draine replaced Surtain at outside cornerback for the second half against the Cowboys, but the Broncos have been mum on how they will handle this absence by the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. When asked if he could move to the outside, McMillian said, “We’ll see.”

Abrams-Draine again could get the call. The Broncos could turn to rookie Jahdae Barron, who played outside corner at Texas but has been used so far on the inside after being the No. 20 pick in last April’s draft. Or Denver could mix it up.

“We had a good week of preparation, and it’s going well,’’ Broncos coach Sean Payton said Friday about replacing Surtain.

Until his injury, Surtain had played in 75 of a possible 77 regular-season and playoff games in his five-year career. The last game he missed was in Week 7 last October at New Orleans due to a concussion.

“I think we’ve got enough players on the team that kind of understand when you lose somebody of that caliber, you got to do more,’’ said defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. “Everybody has to do a little more and we trust the young guys (at defensive back) to go out there and get the job done. I have extreme confidence in them but we can all do more to help those guys out.”

With Mims out, rookie Pat Bryant is in line for more work as he moves into the No. 3 receiver role after Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. Trent Sherfield will be the No. 4 receiver. For a fifth receiver, the Broncos could make an elevation from the practice squad, with A.T. Perry one possible candidate.

“We saw it on film,” Payton said of Bryant already being a fixture this season in offense due to his blocking ability. “If they don’t bite when they’re puppies, they generally never do. So you saw it with Sutton (a rookie in 2018), you see it with certain players. Now, can you develop a receiver? Yes.”

Bryant has seven catches for 87 yards this season. That includes a 24-yard touchdown reception from Bo Nix in the final minute of the first half last Sunday that Payton said was not practiced during the week.

“Those were ones where it was like, where’s he throwing?’’ Payton said. “And then you’re like, ‘Good job.’”

With Adkins out, the Broncos figure to elevate from the practice squad tight end Marcedes Lewis, who was signed Wednesday, to the active roster. Payton said Friday that “absolutely” is a possibility.

Learning from Lewis

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman is doing whatever he can to learn from Lewis, who is 41 and in his 20^th NFL season.

“It’s awesome,’’ said Trautman, 28 and in his sixth season. “I love it and you’d be stupid not to take advantage of it as long as he’s around. He’s seen so much. He’s been around so much. And then he’s seen a lot of life. He loves to talk about it, and it’s awesome. He’ll answer whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

After Lewis signed, Payton said he never previously in 18 years as a head coach had a player older than 40. He corrected himself Friday, realizing he had omitted quarterback Drew Brees, who was 41 and older than Lewis is now when he played for Payton’s New Orleans Saints in his final season of 2020.

“I got in trouble (Wednesday),’’ Payton said. “I told (the media) I think (Lewis is) the oldest player I coached… Pretty dumb of me. … (To hit an age like Lewis has), that’s unusual, and he’s one of those guys. I mean, his routine, his regimen, all of it is extremely impressive. I’m glad he’s here.”

Briefly

Mims was hurt on a kickoff return with 4:44 left last Sunday and the Broncos up 44-24. Payton said Monday that Mims was supposed to not return the kick with the game being lopsided but there was substitution snafu and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi ending up sending running back Tyler Badie in for running back RJ Harvey rather than in for Mims. “We’re good,’’ Payton said about it Friday. “Darren has been outstanding.” … Payton wouldn’t speculate on much linebacker Dre Greenlaw will play against the Texans in his second game for Denver. “We’ll have a plan,’’ he said.  Greenlaw missed the first six games due a quad injury before starting Oct. 19 against the New York Giants and playing 21 snaps.  He then served a one-game NFL suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct. … After making field goals of 55 and 57 yards in October, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz doesn’t want to “put a number on” his range. “Whatever this team will let me kick, I’ll go out there for,’’ said Lutz, 31, who had a career-long 60-yard boot with the Saints in 2022.