Broncos right tackle Jared Veldheer was slow to walk off the field late in the first quarter of Monday night’s game against Kansas City. He was examined in the trainer’s tent before heading to the locker room. He was ruled out in the second half.
replaced Veldheer, like he did in the second half of the Week 2 win against Oakland when Veldheer sustained a concussion.
Jared Veldheer (knee) out for the game
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson)
Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins (hamstring) was ruled out in the first half.
Broncos cornerback Adam Jones returned after missing the Baltimore loss because of a thigh injury. Jones started because the Broncos used five defensive backs on the Chiefs’ first snap.
Rookie Isaac Yiadom was active for the second consecutive game, replacing Tramaine Brock (thigh).
The Broncos inactives were Brock, safety Shamarko Thomas, quarterback Kevin Hogan, defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, linebacker Alexander Johnson and offensive linemen Sam Jones and Elijah Wilkinson.
Dymonte Thomas, listed as questionable with an abdominal injury, was active and took Shamarko Thomas’ spot.
Hogan, Walker, Johnson, Jones and Wilkinson have been healthy scratches for all four games.
Homecoming for Rothman. The Chiefs-Broncos game was a homecoming for Jay Rothman, lead producer for ESPN’s game broadcast. Rothman grew up on the East Coast, but started college at the University of Denver before earning his degree from Colorado.
“It was an opportunity to experience the west,” Rothman said. “I didn’t travel much as a kid. I wanted to have a different college experience.”
While at CU, Rothman would work Buffs games for Boulder Campus Network and then Broncos games on Sunday for a local station.
“Itap so cool for me (returning to Denver), I’m getting the chills just talking about it honestly,” Rothman said. “There are just such great memories. Itap not the same stadium as (the old Mile High), but when I take a lap of the field before the game, I’ll pinch myself as if to say, ‘This is the best.’”
Rothman’s broadcast was overhauled in the offseason, adding Joe Tessitore (play-by-play) and analysts and Booger McFarland.
“Itap been a joy,” Rothman said. “The joy has been starting from scratch and building together.”
Life without Butt. The Broncos called up from the practice squad to take the roster spot vacated by , who sustained a torn ACL on Thursday and was placed on injured reserve.
“I felt for Jake right away,” coach said Friday. “He’s worked so hard for the last two years to get himself back to this point (of playing). He was improving every day. You can see the special ability the player had and (his) passion. He was the same guy every day — happy, fully engaged and a smart player. … But he’ll come back.”
Parker appeared in his first regular season game since 2015 when he appeared in nine games for Kansas City.
Footnotes. Linebacker Brandon Marshall and receiver observed the national anthem from the sideline. For the preseason and first two regular season games, they left the playing field. … Cornerback Bradley Roby’s first quarter pass break-up (on third down from the Broncos’ 15) was his first of the year. … The Rockies-Dodgers radio broadcast was piped into the Broncos Stadium at Mile High’s concourses Monday afternoon and the television broadcast was displayed on the in-stadium big screens. … Despite losing three consecutive games, the have been installed as a two-point favorite over the Broncos for Sunday. … According to the secondary ticket marketplace TickPick, the average ticket price for Monday’s game was $487, up 32 percent since Week 1.
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