The Denver Broncos haven't released an official injury report for Wednesday's practices yet, but the team has announced that defensive backs Brian Dawkins and Chris Harris were unable to participate on Wednesday. Both players have been key parts of the Broncos' defense this season, and they'll need all of the help that they can get if they want to clinch the AFC West title with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.
Dawkins, 38, is nearing the end of the line, it seems. He's started 12 of the 14 games that he's played this season, but apparent neck injuries have begun to take a toll. Dawkins has had to miss playing time in four separate games this season to deal with his neck, leading to the speculation in this recent Denver Post article that the safety may be forced to retire at the end of the season.
Harris, 22, also missed practice on Wednesday with a neck injury. He appeared to sustain the injury last week against the Buffalo BIlls, and the Broncos presumably want to be cautious considering how dangerous neck injuries can be. The rookie has started four times this season and could emerge as a consistent starter for the team in the future.
For more on this Week 17 game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. Be sure to check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.