Clayton: A thin secondary will make life tough for the Broncos on Sunday

On Wednesday, it was good news that the Broncos got 13 players back from the COVID-19 list because they also placed three starters on the injured reserve. The news got worse on Thursday.

Vic Fangio ruled out cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Ronald Darby, two of the main additions to the secondary this year, for the season finale against the Chiefs. Since safety Kareem Jackson was one of three who went on injured reserve on Wednesday, the Broncos secondary will be depleted.

That puts the Broncos in a horrible spot in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have beaten the Broncos 12 times in a row. The most-talented secondary in football is now thin and vulnerable.

Denver did get Bryce Callahan back on Wednesday, but they will be in trouble at the outside cornerback position. You can’t be that vulnerable against the Chiefs.

Kansas City has the fastest receiving group in football. The Broncos will be fine in the slot, but that doesn’t help on the outside. Plus, the Chiefs have Travis Kelce at tight end.

This looks to me that Patrick Mahomes should put up big numbers. That’s not good for the Broncos because they haven’t been good on offense of late, especially with the running game.

Plus, they have Drew Lock at quarterback. Lock talks a confident game, but it haven’t shown in his play. Fangio might have to play a lot of cover two to try to survive in this game.

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