After not practising throughout the week, Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III was listed as doubtful on Friday owing to hip and shoulder injuries.
Rookie RB Javonte Williams is leading the line to replace Gordon for the Sunday night clash at Kansas City Chiefs.
Coach Vic Fangio further added that he doesn’t expect Gordon to participate in Saturday’s walkthrough, either, the Associated Press reported. “We’ll see. It’s doubtful, but that’s why we didn’t list him as ‘out’ because if he makes a turn he can play,” Fangio said.
If Gordon misses out on the Chief clash, Williams will get the bulk of the workload with veteran running back Mike Boone also getting some work.
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Gordon has ran for 605 yards and five touchdowns on 22 catches for 166 yards and two scores despite two fumbles.
Williams, a second-round selection out of North Carolina, has run for 568 yards and two touchdowns on 117 attempts and added 193 yards and a touchdown on 27 catches.
Last season, Williams led the country in missed tackles, and his 42 forced missed tackles this season are second in the NFL behind Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor.
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Gordon has a career record of 0-12 versus the Chiefs, with the first ten of those losses coming with the Chargers.
The Broncos (6-5) have dropped 11 straight games to the Chiefs (7-4), but a win on Sunday night might put them in first place in the AFC West.
The Broncos refused to discuss their lack of success against the Chiefs this week, a team they haven’t beaten since 2015.
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“I like to be where my feet are. So I really don’t like thinking about the past or even the future,” said safety Justin Simmons, who’s been around for 10 of the losses.
“I really like focusing in on the now and what’s at stake right now,” Simmons said. “But with that being said, at some point, it does (tick) you off a little bit. I’m really looking forward to Sunday.”
With inputs from the Associated Press