After being limited with an illness and declared questionable due to illness on Wednesday’s final injury report, defensive end George Karlaftis and linebacker Nick Bolton will play on Christmas night. Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi was also ruled questionable with an illness but will not go. Swing tackle Jaylon Moore was also listed as questionable with a knee injury. Moore appeared on track to return after getting in a full practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, but he will not dress.
The Chiefs will also be without guard C.J. Hanson and running back Dameon Pierce. Cornerback Melvin Smith and defensive ends Ethan Downs and Tyreke Smith were signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Wednesday, but the trio will not make their Kansas City debuts after being declared inactive to round out the list.
Wide receiver and return man Nikko Remigio was declared questionable on Wednesday with a knee injury. He is not listed among Kansas City’s inactives after being placed on the Reserve/Injured list earlier Thursday, ending his season. Linebacker Cole Christiansen signed from the practice squad to the active roster to take Remigio’s place. Christiansen is active.
Earlier Thursday, Kansas City elevated practice squad wide receiver Jason Brownlee and tackle Matt Waletzko to the active roster. As elevated players, they will automatically be returned to the team’s practice squad after the game. Both are active for the contest. Brownlee was on Kansas City’s active roster for the season’s first six games. He was waived and re-signed to the practice squad when fellow wideout Rashee Rice came off of league suspension for Week 7.
Denver had already listed wide receiver Pat Bryant, tight end Nate Adkins, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw as out due to injury for the contest.
The team will also play without pass rushers Que Robinson and Sai’Vion Jones, defensive tackle Jordan Jackson, and former Chiefs back up tackle Geron Chrstian.
To make room, Denver placed center Luke Wattenberg — already ruled out against Kansas City — on their Reserve/Injured list. Former Truman State and Mizzou running back Cody Schrader was also waived.