The Chiefs already know five starters will be missing when the visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, but they may also be missing cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
The club lists Breeland as questionable against the Broncos for personal reasons. He is not traveling with the club as they head to Denver on Wednesday. The club also ruled out wide receiver Sammy Watkins (hamstring), defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin), left tackle Eric Fisher (groin), left guard Andrew Wylie (ankle) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (thumb).
If Breeland doesn't suit up against the Broncos, that would leave the Chiefs without two starting corners with Fuller out due to a thumb injury sustained last week against Houston. The Chiefs have just three other available cornerbacks: starter Charvarius Ward and backups Morris Claiborne and Rashad Fenton.
Ward started each of the first six games for the Chiefs at both left and right cornerback. Claiborne returned two weeks ago from a four-game suspension and has spelled both Ward and Breeland on the outside. Fuller was the team's full-time nickel back in the slot until suffering the injury, and Fenton stepped in for him in the second half against Houston.
Fenton, a sixth-round selection in this year's draft, has emerged as a valuable special teams contributor, but he feels ready if needed for an expanded role against the Broncos.
“I've still been getting reps out there, so I think it will be smooth,” Fenton said.
The Chiefs pegged Fenton as potential slot corner during the draft and groomed him as Fuller's backup during the offseason and training camp. He says he's learned much from Fuller and the team's other defensive backs, particularly when it comes to the speed of the game and understanding concepts.
“We're a DB group, so any tips that they have they make sure they spread throughout all the DBs and make sure everyone's on the same page,” Fenton said. “But we all have defenses, not just one DB going, we have to go against the whole receiver corps.”
The Chiefs did not practice on Wednesday, but are required to issue an injury report for Thursday night's game with estimated player availability. Fuller, Fisher, Jone and Wylie were listed as did not practice, while Watkins was tagged as limited. All other players were listed listed as full participants, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is nursing a sore left ankle.
Linebacker Anthony Hitchens, who did not play against Houston with a groin injury, does expect to start against Denver Thursday night.
Chiefs Injury Report
OUT: WR Sammy Watkins, LT Eric Fisher, LG Andrew Wylie, DT Chris Jones and CB Kendall Fuller
QUESTIONABLE: CB Bashaud Breeland (not injury related)
Did not practice: LT Eric Fisher (groin), LG Andrew Wylie (ankle), DT Chris Jones (groin) and CB Kendall Fuller (thumb)
Limited participation: WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring)
Full participation: QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), WR Tyreek Hill (shoulder), LT Cam Erving (groin), RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle), FB Anthony Sherman (shoulder), LB Anthony Hitchens (groin), DT Derrick Nnadi (elbow), LB Dorian O'Daniel (hamstring) and CB Bashaud Breeland (not injury related)
(Team did not practice on Wednesday, participation reports are an estimation)
