The Week 18 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos matchup has plenty of intrigue, and the injury report on both sides has garnered attention this week. With the Chiefs needing to win to have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC, do they have any concerns on their injury report? Meanwhile, what does the Broncos’ injury report look like as they fight for pride in Week 18?
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos Injury Report
Which players will definitely be missing from the Chiefs vs. Broncos Week 18 matchup, and who is questionable heading into the game? Let’s take a look at both the Chiefs’ and Broncos’ injury reports ahead of this crucial matchup for the 2021-2022 NFL playoff picture.
Chiefs injury report
- OL Lucas Niang (Knee) – Out (Placed on IR)
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Shoulder) – Out
- OL Orlando Brown (Calf) – No injury designation
- DT Derrick Nnadi (Shoulder) – No injury designation
- LB Anthony Hitchens (Knee) – No injury designation
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (Knee) – No injury designation
The loss of Niang just two weeks after they placed Mike Remmers on IR is a blow for the Chiefs. Fortunately, it appears Brown is going to return after just a one-game absence. While Andrew Wylie is fine starting at the right tackle spot, he is the third choice. It also leaves the Chiefs very thin if something were to happen to Brown or Wylie.
The loss of Edwards-Helaire is frustrating more than anything. The Chiefs’ roster has adequate coverage at RB, but Edwards-Helaire is the No. 1. This could just be a case of resting him for the playoffs, and they will hopefully have him back on either Wild Card Weekend or in the Divisional Round.
Having Sneed, Hitchens, and Nnadi available is a positive. Sneed is the biggest impact player, but the other two play crucial roles in the rotation. With no one on the reserve/COVID-19 list entering Week 18, the Chiefs are reasonably close to full strength for this crucial game with playoff implications.
Broncos injury report
- CB Patrick Surtain II (Calf) – Out
- CB Ronald Darby (Shoulder) – Out
- OT Bobby Massie (Concussion) – Out
- DE Shelby Harris (Ankle/Illness) – Questionable
- CB Nate Hairston (Illness) – Questionable
- K Brandon McManus (COVID) – Questionable
- P Sam Martin (COVID) – Questionable
- TE Noah Fant (Quad) – No injury designation
- RB Melvin Gordon III (Thumb/Hip) – No injury designation
- RB Javonte Williams (Knee) – No injury designation
- QB Drew Lock (Shoulder) – No injury designation
- DL Shamar Stephen (Quad) – No injury designation
The Broncos are not quite as lucky on the injury front as the Chiefs. They will be without two of their top corners in Surtain and Darby. On top of that, Hairston was placed on the reserve/COVID list this week, so they will be lacking in-depth as well as the top-tier talent at the position. It is going to be a tough ask for the Broncos secondary to take on this Chiefs offense with limitations at cornerback.
The kicking situation is intriguing. Both McManus and Martin tested positive Monday. They were activated from the reserve/COVID list on Friday and required medical clearance to play in Week 18. Both were cleared to play Saturday morning but it has certainly added an extra headache for the coaches this week.
The good news for the Broncos is that all of their main offensive players on the injury report were cleared to play. QB Lock, TE Fant, and RBs Gordon and Williams were full participants at practice Thursday. All four are expected to suit up barring a setback.
The Broncos did place three players on injured reserve this week. The loss of S Kareem Jackson adds to the defensive back woes for the Broncos. Losing G Dalton Risner is another problem and impacts the OL depth. However, placing QB Teddy Bridgewater on IR might actually be a good thing as it allows Lock to get another start as the Broncos contemplate the future of the position.