The Broncos will be a bit short-handed when they take the field for their Christmas Day showdown against the Chiefs, with five players officially ruled out due to injuries.
Among the most notable absences is linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who continues to battle a hamstring injury suffered in last week’s loss to Jacksonville. This marks the eighth game Greenlaw will miss this season, and his absence is a tough blow for a Denver defense that’s leaned on his physicality and sideline-to-sideline range when he’s been available. Without him, the Broncos lose one of their more instinctive second-level defenders, especially against a Chiefs offense that thrives on creating mismatches in space.
The offensive line will also see a shake-up. Center Luke Wattenberg, who has quietly been one of the most durable pieces on the Broncos’ offense this year, is out with a shoulder injury.
Wattenberg had played every offensive snap this season, so his absence will be felt not just in protection schemes but also in the rhythm and communication up front. Rookie Alex Forsyth is next up on the depth chart, and he’ll be tasked with anchoring the line against a Kansas City front that knows how to bring pressure.
For a young center stepping into a prime-time divisional game, that’s a tall order.
The Broncos’ pass-catching group takes a hit as well. Wide receiver Pat Bryant is out with a concussion, and tight end Nate Adkins will miss the game with a knee injury.
While neither has been a focal point of the offense, both have provided depth and flexibility in personnel packages. Their absence could force Denver to lean more heavily on its top targets and potentially simplify its formations - something the Chiefs’ defense could look to exploit.
Linebacker Karene Reid will also be sidelined due to a hamstring injury, further thinning out Denver’s depth at the position. With both Greenlaw and Reid unavailable, the Broncos will need to get creative with their linebacker rotations and may have to rely more heavily on hybrid looks or bring in additional safeties to help in coverage and run support.
On the bright side, linebacker Justin Strnad, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, has no injury designation heading into the matchup. That’s a good sign for a defense in need of reinforcements, particularly with the Chiefs’ offense always capable of stretching a defense thin.
Injuries are part of the game, especially this late in the season, but for a Broncos team still trying to stay competitive in the AFC playoff picture, this is a tough week to be missing key contributors. Facing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is never easy - doing it on a short week without several starters only raises the degree of difficulty.