ENGLEWOOD – Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said last week that teammate Talanoa Hufanga was “snubbed” for the Pro Bowl Games.

Hufanga disagrees.

“I can’t say that I was snubbed,’’ the safety told The Denver Gazette after Wednesday’s practice at Broncos Park.

Hufanga said he was not deserving of being named one of the AFC’s three Pro Bowl safeties because he hasn’t made any interceptions this season. Hufanga had made the Pro Bowl as well as being first-team All-Pro with San Francisco in 2021 when he had four interceptions and forced two fumbles.

“I got to get some interceptions,’’ said Hufanga, who is an alternate for the Pro Bowl. “I’ve been a Pro Bowler before and I made plays on the ball. This year, I did not. I made pass deflections but as a safety the goal is to come down with some and I didn’t come down with any this year.”

Hufanga has 11 passes defended and forced his only fumble of the season so far in the opener against Tennessee. With the Broncos closing the regular season Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High, he is rated the No. 18 safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus out of 97.

“Honestly, I’ve adjusted well, but nowhere near perfect,’’ Hufanga said of joining the Broncos on a three-year, $39 million contract after spending his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers. “The plays that I missed during the season, I just dropped. I had one against the Texans I dropped. I dropped a pick against the Eagles. … I had one against the Giants. … It was like four or five that I clearly missed an opportunity. I got to come down with those.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton also said last week that Hufanga should have made the Pro Bowl and he was second in fan voting among all NFL safeties. But Hufanga had no issue with not being selected for the Pro Bowl with fans, players and coaches each counting for a third in the voting.

Throckmorton seeks Broncos return

Guard Calvin Throckmorton, who has gone up and down this season from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, expects to be back next season with the Broncos.

Throckmorton, who was waived Friday off the active roster before being re-signed to the practice squad Tuesday, told The Denver Gazette the plan is to sign a futures deal with the Broncos after the season if he remains on the practice squad. If he is brought back to the 53-man roster, he could remain on the offseason roster.

“I’m happy here,’’ Throckmorton said. “I love it here. I love the culture we’ve built. … There’s really no place I’d rather be. Obviously, you want to have opportunities and you want to contribute and get on the field, but I’m happy obviously to be here.”

When Throckmorton was waived last week, he said the Broncos said they wanted him back on the practice squad and back next season.

“They said, ‘We don’t want you to go anywhere. We want you back next year,’’’ he said.

Throckmorton, a five-year veteran in his third season with the Broncos, has gotten into 10 games. It was a whirlwind last week with Thorkmorton being promoted from the practice squad Thursday to the 53-man roster before being waived the next day.

With starting center Luke Wattenberg being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and Alex Forsyth taking over, the Broncos needed a backup center for Thursday’s 20-13 win at Kansas City. The versatile Throckmorton wasn’t needed in that role but did play four snaps on special teams.

The Broncos last Friday signed Sam Mustipher, a seven-year veteran who was in Denver’s training camp in 2024, to be Forsyth’s backup. Mustipher was plucked off the Chargers’ practice squad but Payton said their impending trip to Denver was not a factor in the move.

“The coincidence is that it’s from Los Angeles and not this, ‘Oh, we’re going to get all of this information,’’’ Payton said. “This was about having, for this stretch run, another experienced center.”

Greenlaw sits out practice

Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw sat out Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury and could miss his second straight game Sunday.

Greenlaw was hurt late in Denver’s 34-20 loss to Jacksonville on Dec. 21 and sat out against the Chiefs. Justin Strnad is in line to again replace him.

Returning to practice on a limited basis were wide receiver Pat Bryant and tight end Nate Adkins, both hurt against the Jaguars. Bryant suffered a concussion and Adkins a knee injury. Adkins wore a brace on his left knee.

Also listed as limited was defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who played just 11 snaps against the Chiefs due to a hip injury.

Trautman seeking extra $125,000

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman, who has 20 catches, would earn a $125,000 incentive if he catches five passes against the Chargers to finish the season with 25.

“He needs five, but that’s what he averages a year, so that could be tough,’’ Payton said with a laugh.

Actually, Trautman’s career high is 27 receptions for New Orleans in 2021, when Payton was the coach. Trautman, in his third Broncos season, had 22 in 2023 and 13 last year.

Briefly

Payton said Jaleel McLaughlin, who backs up rookie RJ Harvey at running back, “will have an important role” Sunday. Payton has been wanting to increase carries for McLaughlin, who was inactive for nine of the first 10 games but had seven carries for a season-high 40 yards at Kansas City. “Deceptively, he’s a strong runner,’’ Payton said. … Asked if had a message to players about anything they might do Wednesday night, Payton said he “didn’t know it was New Year’s Eve” and called it the “most overrated holiday.” He expressed no concern about having any issues with players. … Hufanga’s cousin, Chargers outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, will be eligible for a extension after having made the Pro Bowl and having 13 sacks in his third season. “Hopefully, they pay him,’’ Hufanga said. “He’s worth every penny.”