ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Denver Broncos will be without four players who have started games for the team this season when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
Safety T.J. Ward (concussion), tight end A.J. Derby (concussion), tight end Virgil Green (concussion) and linebacker Brandon Marshall (hamstring) were ruled out of the Christmas night game against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. At 8-6, the Broncos likely have to win both of their remaining games to stay alive in the AFC playoff race.
Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said after Friday's practice that defensive end Derek Wolfe (neck) is formally listed as questionable. Wolfe left last Sunday's game in the second quarter and has also missed the past two days of practice with an illness.
"[I'm] hopeful,'' Kubiak said about Wolfe. "He got sick on us [Thursday], tried to come in [Friday], ended up sending him to the doctor. We'll see. We've got a lot of time on our hands since we don't play until Sunday night.''
Green, Derby and Ward are all in the concussion protocol. None of the three participated in practice this week.
With Derby and Green out, the Broncos might be forced to make a roster move given Jeff Heuerman is the only healthy tight end on the 53-man roster. The Broncos do have three tight ends on the practice squad, or they could simply use an extra lineman, like Ty Sambrailo, as a tight end in some run-game looks.
And if the Broncos decide Marshall, who hasn't practiced since he reinjured his hamstring Dec. 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, isn't expected to return to practice soon, he could be moved to injured reserve if the Broncos promote a tight end from the practice squad.
"Obviously with those guys and some things going, it's something we'll have to take a look at it,'' Kubiak said.
At safety, the Broncos do have some options, but Ward is their leading tackler this season (87) and plays in every personnel grouping the team has on defense.
The Broncos could play cornerback Bradley Roby at safety in some of their base defense looks, and rookie safeties Will Parks and Justin Simmons have played in some of the team's specialty packages.