The Monday night teams have submitted their injury reports, and the two notable names are as expected. Eric Berry and Jake Butt won’t play.
Berry hasn’t played since the opener in New England last year, and Kansas City has really missed him. The team’s offense has been remarkable, but it’s defense has been pretty awful, allowing a league-high 474 yards per game. That’s over 40 more yards per game than any other team. Only two teams have allowed more points.
KC would very much like to get its star safety back in place. But even when he returns, this is going to be a suspect defense. Denver won’t necessarily win this game, but it should put up plenty of yards and points.
On the Broncos’ side, they’ve lost Jake Butt for the season with a torn ACL. That should translate into improved receiving numbers for Jeff Heuerman. Maybe. Those guys have both been playing a lot. Heuerman is the better blocker, while Butt is more of a receiving threat. But I saw Heuerman make a couple of decent catches against Chicago in the preseason, most notably one where he was able to shrug off a would-be tackler and create a few extra yards. With this game being a wild shootout, there’s some possibility that Heuerman will be a top-10 player at his position this week.
As the season progresses, the Broncos likely will work in a second tight end, and that guy might be more of a pass catcher than Heuerman. Brian Parker and Matt LaCosse are the other tight ends on the roster. (Parker was just signed off the practice squad to replace Butt.)
Denver also has some defensive injuries. Three backups in the secondary are listed: Cornerback Tramaine Brock (thigh) is doubtful, cornerback Adam Jones (thigh) is questionable, and safety Dymonte Thomas (abdomen) is questionable. None of those guys are starters, and Jones and Thomas both likely will play. But when playing Kansas City, would be preferable to have a healthy secondary.
Starting linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) is questionable. He was limited in practice all week.
KANSAS CITY at DENVER
KANSAS CITY
DOUBTFUL: S Eric Berry (heel)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: S Eric Berry (heel), LB Dee Ford (groin), LB Justin Houston (not injury related), LB Terrance Smith (shin)
Friday: S Eric Berry (heel)
Saturday: S Eric Berry (heel)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday: LB Dee Ford (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: TE Demetrius Harris (shoulder), DE Jarvis Jenkins (elbow), LB Ben Niemann (hamstring), DT Derrick Nnadi (elbow), S Ron Parker (shoulder), RB Spencer Ware (knee)
Friday: TE Demetrius Harris (shoulder), LB Justin Houston (not injury related), DE Jarvis Jenkins (elbow), LB Ben Niemann (hamstring), DT Derrick Nnadi (elbow), S Ron Parker (shoulder), LB Terrance Smith (shin), RB Spencer Ware (knee)
Saturday: LB Dee Ford (groin), TE Demetrius Harris (shoulder), DE Jarvis Jenkins (elbow), LB Ben Niemann (hamstring), DT Derrick Nnadi (elbow), S Ron Parker (shoulder), LB Terrance Smith (shin), RB Spencer Ware (knee)
DENVER
OUT: TE Jake Butt (knee)
DOUBTFUL: CB Tramaine Brock (thigh)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Tramaine Brock (thigh)
Friday: CB Tramaine Brock (thigh), TE Jake Butt (knee)
Saturday: TE Jake Butt (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: TE Jake Butt (knee), DE Shelby Harris (ankle), CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen)
Friday: DE Shelby Harris (ankle), CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen)
Saturday: CB Tramaine Brock (thigh), CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: QB Case Keenum (knee), LB Shane Ray (wrist), CB Isaac Yiadom (knee)
Friday: QB Case Keenum (knee), LB Shane Ray (wrist), CB Isaac Yiadom (knee)
Saturday: DE Shelby Harris (ankle), QB Case Keenum (knee), LB Shane Ray (wrist), CB Isaac Yiadom (knee)