The Chiefs will be without rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane on Sunday at Denver. They also placed cornerback L'Jarius Sneed on injured reserve. Adam Schefter reported that Delane was downgraded to out with a shoulder injury, and that Sneed went on IR. Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams described it as two big hits to the secondary on the eve of the rivalry game.
Arrowhead Pride's Jared Sapp has the most detail on Delane. He wrote that Delane was a midweek practice downgrade as he continues to manage a preseason shoulder injury. Kansas City listed him as questionable on Friday's final Week 8 injury report. The team changed his status to out on Saturday, before it left for the road. Only Arrowhead Pride gives that timeline and the preseason origin of the injury. The summaries we have don't say why Sneed went on IR. They also don't say how long he will be out. Placement on IR normally means he misses multiple games, but none of the outlets gave a timeline.
Both cornerbacks have played significant roles. Sneed has 32 tackles (22 solo) and two forced fumbles in six games this season. Delane has played five games and has 27 tackles (17 solo). Delane has no sacks or forced fumbles. Sneed has played in every game this year, so his absence leaves a gap that Delane's absence widens. The reporting doesn't say who will replace either player.
The timing matters because Kansas City is 5-1 and first in the AFC West, but it has lost its most recent game. The Chiefs fell 20-3 at Seattle on Oct. 25, after beating the Chargers 22-6 and the Raiders 30-27 in Las Vegas. Their run differential is plus-40.
Sun, Nov 1, 4:25 PM ET
Denver is 5-2 and half a game back, with a three-game winning streak. The Broncos beat Arizona 30-16 last Sunday and Seattle 17-14 on Oct. 15. Over their last five games they have scored 22.8 points per game and allowed 19.4. A Denver win would pull the Broncos level with Kansas City in the loss column and put them in a tie for first, so Sunday carries real weight in the division.
Kansas City plays at Denver on Sunday, Nov. 1. Delane is already ruled out. Sneed's IR placement means the Chiefs will have to manage the secondary without him for the foreseeable future.
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