According to ESPN.com, Broncos’ receiver Brandon Marshall won’t play against the Chiefs this Sunday due to a hamstring injury.
Marshall had sat out practice for the second straight day Thursday with a strained right hamstring that he suffered running a route.
Having him available to play is critical for the Broncos (8-7), who need to beat the last-place Chiefs in their regular-season finale and get some assistance if they’re going to qualify for the playoffs.
There are at least 10 different scenarios that can allow the Broncos to get into the postseason. The simplest is if two of these three lose: Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Jets.
This is obviously a huge blow for the Broncos, but at least they’re facing a brutal Chiefs team that Denver crushed 44-13 in Week 13. Knowshon Moreno and Denver’s running game should have plenty room to operate against a Kansas City defense that ranks 30th in the NFL in run defense.
With this news, Eddie Royal suddenly becomes starter caliber and Marshall owners might find that he’s available on the waiver wire. The Chiefs’ pass defense isn’t good and the Broncos need the win so look for Royal to step up. Jabar Gaffney is also a sneaky good start.
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