Chiefs vs Broncos FINAL INJURY LIST – Who’s OUT, QUESTIONABLE, or PLAYING Sunday? Full Official Friday Report for Both Teams – Click to See Every Name Before Kickoff at Mile High! 🏥
Posted on November 15, 2025 | By NFL Injury Insider | Read Time: 8 minutes
As the AFC West showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) and Denver Broncos (8-2) looms large this Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS), injuries could be the ultimate game-changer. The Broncos, riding a scorching seven-game win streak, enter as home underdogs but face a potential injury apocalypse that’s left them with five starters officially ruled out. Meanwhile, the Chiefs—fresh off their Week 10 bye and desperate to claw back into playoff contention—head into the thin air of Denver with just one key absence. This isn’t just a divisional tilt; it’s a survival test where depth charts will dictate destiny.
The NFL’s Friday injury report, released late yesterday (November 14, 2025), paints a stark picture. For Kansas City, it’s mostly good news after a week of rest, with head coach Andy Reid’s post-bye magic (he’s 22-4 in such spots since 2018) potentially amplified by a healthier roster. Denver, however, is limping in after a gritty 10-7 Thursday night win over the Raiders in Week 10, where several nagging issues flared up. Pat Surtain II’s absence alone is a seismic blow to the Broncos’ secondary, already tested by Denver’s league-leading 46 sacks but vulnerable against Patrick Mahomes’ aerial assault.
In this deep dive, we’ll break down the official lists for both teams, highlight the biggest impacts, and explore how these absences could swing the game. Whether you’re a die-hard Chiefs Kingdom member plotting Travis Kelce’s fantasy explosion or a Broncos Country faithful praying for Bo Nix to outduel the two-time MVP, this report has you covered. Let’s dissect the damage—because in the AFC West, every snap counts.
Kansas City Chiefs Injury Report: Relatively Rosy After Bye Weekend
The Chiefs’ list is short and sweet, a far cry from the injury-riddled squads that plagued them early in 2025. Only one player is officially OUT, allowing Andy Reid to unleash a near-full arsenal against a Broncos defense that’s top-3 in points allowed (17.3 per game) but now exposed in coverage. Kansas City’s offensive line, bolstered by returning starters, should hold firm against Denver’s vaunted pass rush led by Nik Bonitto (9.5 sacks).
Here’s the full Friday rundown for the Chiefs (practice status in parentheses: DNP = Did Not Participate, LP = Limited, FP = Full Participation):
| Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isiah Pacheco | RB | Knee (MCL sprain) | DNP (all week) | OUT | Pacheco’s absence marks his second straight game missed since tweaking his knee in Week 8 vs. the Buccaneers. The explosive 2022 fourth-rounder has been a workhorse (4.8 YPC, 5 TDs in 7 games), but veteran Kareem Hunt steps up seamlessly—Hunt’s already logged 6 TDs and 4.5 YPC in limited 2025 action, per Reid’s scheme. Expect a committee with rookie Carson Steele, but Hunt’s pass protection (elite per PFF) keeps Mahomes upright. |
| George Karlaftis | DE | Thumb | LP (Wed), FP (Thu/Fri) | (-) | The 2022 first-rounder’s 5.0 sacks this season make him vital against Bo Nix. Full practice Friday erases early-week doubts; he’s a full go, bolstering KC’s top-7 pass defense. |
| Xavier Worthy | WR | Ankle | LP (Wed), FP (Thu/Fri) | (-) | Added mid-week after a tweak, the speedy rookie (71.8% snap share) is cleared. No lingering issues—Reid confirmed Friday he’s “good to fly.” Worthy’s deep threat (18.2 YPC) exploits Denver’s depleted secondary. |
| Josh Simmons | OT | Personal (NIR – Not Injury Related) | FP (all week) | (-) | Back after missing four games for family matters, Simmons is locked in at LT. His return stabilizes the line alongside RT Jawaan Taylor (knee/ankle, FP all week), crucial vs. Bonitto’s edge rush. |
| Jawaan Taylor | OT | Knee/Ankle | FP (all week) | (-) | Minor wear from Week 9’s Bills loss, but full go. Taylor’s anchoring has improved (PFF grade up 15% from 2024), protecting Mahomes’ blindside. |
Key Takeaway for Chiefs Fans: With just Pacheco sidelined, KC’s offense hums at full throttle. Mahomes (2,349 yards, 17 TDs) thrives in Reid’s post-bye setups, and Hunt’s familiarity (he rushed for 1,125 yards under Reid in 2018) minimizes disruption. The Chiefs’ run game drops from explosive to efficient, but that’s enough to control the clock against a Broncos front missing Jonah Elliss. Playoff odds? This bye-week boost just jumped 8% per ESPN analytics.
Denver Broncos Injury Report: A Storm of Absences Threatens the Break
If the Chiefs are patched up, the Broncos are bandaged and braced. Ten players dotted Wednesday’s list, ballooning to five OUTs by Friday—a brutal hit for Sean Payton’s squad, which has leaned on defense (top-3 in yards allowed at 179.5 per game) to fuel their turnaround. Losing Surtain and Dobbins guts the secondary and backfield, forcing unproven youth into prime time against a hungry KC attack. Nix’s completion rate (60.9%) could crater under pressure.
Full Friday report for Denver (same abbreviations as above):
| Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | Foot | DNP (all week) | OUT | The lead rusher (772 yards, 4 TDs on 153 carries) is OUT and eyeing IR after a Week 10 hip-drop tackle vs. Raiders. Rookie RJ Harvey (from practice squad) starts, with Jaleel McLaughlin (inactive 9/10 games) activated—Payton calls him “ready.” Denver’s 9th-ranked rush (4.8 YPC) stalls; expect Nix-heavy passing (18th in NFL). Long-term: Dobbins out 4+ weeks if IR’d. |
| Pat Surtain II | CB | Pectoral | DNP (all week) | OUT | Denver’s shutdown corner (Pro Bowl lock) misses his third straight after Week 8 strain. His 8 passes defended leave a void—Kelce/Worthy feast (Chiefs top-7 in pass yards). Riley Moss steps up, but Mahomes owns depleted secondaries (0-2 career at Mile High). |
| Alex Singleton | LB | Illness (Testicular Cancer) | DNP (all week) | OUT | Successful surgery Tuesday; out weeks but expected back soon. The tackle machine (89 stops) weakens run support—Chiefs’ Hunt exploits. |
| Jonah Elliss | OLB | Hamstring | DNP (all week) | OUT | Week 10 tweak sidelines the rotational pass rusher (4.5 sacks). Bonitto carries the load, but depth thins vs. Karlaftis/Omenihu. |
| Nate Adkins | TE | Knee | DNP (all week) | OUT | Reserve depth hit; Adam Trautman starts, but blocking suffers. |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | WR | Concussion | DNP (Wed), FP (Thu/Fri) | (-) | Back from two-game absence—big boost for Nix (Mims’ 14.1 YPC adds speed). Full go Friday. |
| Tre’Nard Sherfield | WR | Toe | DNP (Wed), FP (Thu/Fri) | (-) | Minor issue cleared; rotational role intact. |
| Garrett Wallow | LB | Hamstring | FP (all week) | QUESTIONABLE | Special teams only; post-IR return, but monitor inactives. |
| Sam Reid | LB | Hamstring | IR | OUT (long-term) | Up IR last week; misses 4+ weeks. |
| John Franklin-Myers | DL | Back | LP (Thu), FP (Fri) | (-) | Rotational DT cleared; adds interior pressure. |
Key Takeaway for Broncos Fans: Five starters OUT is nightmare fuel—secondary and run game gutted, forcing a pass-first script against KC’s top-7 coverage. Harvey/McLaughlin are underdogs, but Payton’s creativity (he schemed 111 yards from McLaughlin in 2023) could shine. Defense still sacks (46 league-high), but without Surtain, Mahomes’ legs (285 scramble yards) run wild. Streak survival? Hinges on Nix’s efficiency.
How These Injuries Tilt the Scales: Game Applications
Pacheco’s void hands Hunt the reins, potentially gashing Denver’s 12th-ranked run D (4.2 YPC allowed). Chiefs’ OL health lets Mahomes target a Surtain-less backfield—Kelce’s 297 yards over four games screams exploit. For Broncos, Dobbins’ loss caps explosive plays (Denver 22nd in rush YPC without him), pushing Nix into Mahomes’ wheelhouse. Yet, Elliss out barely dents the rush; Bonitto could tag-team Karlaftis for chaos.
Projections shift: Chiefs now 55% favorites (up from 52%), O/U dips to 43.5 amid run-heavy leans. Reid’s bye edge (84.6% win rate) vs. Payton’s TNF hangover spells KC upset potential. Fantasy heads: Start Hunt/Kelce; bench Dobbins handcuffs.
