KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs plan to start their third different center in as many games Sunday against Denver with Austin Reiter stepping into the lineup with Mitch Morse and Jordan Devey sideline by injuries.
"I'm excited, I'm excited for the opportunity," Reiter said. "I was just telling myself, I prepare every week like I'm going to play every snap except the first one — and then this week I get to play the first one. So that was just kind of the same preparation every week."
The club claimed Reiter off waivers from the Cleveland Browns following the cutdown to 53 players before the season. Reiter was inactive for the first games of he season, but played on special teams the last two weeks.
He entered the league as as seventh-round selection of Washington in 2015. He played 17 games with one start for the Browns the past two season.
The Chiefs ruled Morse out as he remains in the league's concussion protocol. Devey suffered a torn pectoral muscle last week and underwent surgery, sending to season-ending injured reserve.
Denver ruled out four players, including running back Royce Freeman (ankle), who rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries against the Chiefs in Week 4. The Broncos will also be without right tackle Jared Veldheer (knee), strong safety Darian Stewart (neck) and backup wide receiver. Linebacker Von Miller (knee) is questionable but expects to play.
The Chiefs also tagged linebacker Justin Houston (hamstring) and Eric Berry (heel) as doubtful. It's the third week in a row the Chiefs have labeled Houston as doutbful, and he did not play in the previous two games.
Berry has yet to play this season, yet Reid said the team's medical staff continues working with Berry to return him to the field.
"Just where he's comfortable driving and running, that's what it really comes down to," Reid said.
Four other Chiefs are listed on the injury report as full participants expect to play, including offensive lineman Cam Erving (quad).
Safety Daniel Sorensen, who remains on injured reserve, returned to practice this week. Reid said he did a good job job working with the scout team.
"Probably a little better than I anticipated," Reid said. "But he's still going to take some time. We'll just let him continue to work into it, see how he does here the next couple of days after that workload that he's had. But he actually moved around pretty good."
Chiefs Injury Report
OUT: C Mitch Morse
DOUBTFUL: LB Justin Houston and S Eric Berry
QUESTIONABLE: None
Did not practice: LB Justin Houston (hamstring), C Mitch Morse (center) and S Eric Berry (heel)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: LG Cam Erving (quad), LB Tanoh Kpassagnon (ankle), S Eric Murray (ankle) and RB Spencer Ware (ankle)
Broncos Injury Report
OUT: RB Royce Freeman, SS Darian Stewart, RT Jared Veldheer and WR DaeSean Hamilton
DOUBTFUL: LB Shane Ray
QUESTIONABLE: LB Von Miller, ILB Brandon Marshall and C Nico Falah
Did not practice: RB Royce Freeman (ankle), WR DaeSean Hamilton (knee), S Darian Stewart (neck) and RT Jared Veldheer (knee)
Limited participation: LB Von Miller (ankle), ILB Brandon Marshall (knee), OLB Shane Ray (ankle/wrist) and C Nico Falah (concussion)
Full participation: WR Demaryius Thomas (wrist), CB Adam Jones (thigh), TE Matt LaCosse (knee) and S Dymonte Thomas (chest)
