KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs will face the New England Patriots without as many as five players who have played significant roles this season.
The latest Chiefs injury is to wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas, who broke his leg in practice. Thomas broke the same leg last season.
The loss of Thomas hurts the Chiefs on both special teams and offense. The 176-pound Thomas -- who has been called, pound-for-pound, the toughest player on the team by special-teams coordinator Dave Toub -- is the Chiefs' leading tackler in the kicking game and the primary kickoff returner.
He was only eighth on the team in catches with three, but specializes in many of the gadget plays the Chiefs like to run.
An immediate option to replace Thomas in time for Sunday night's game would be to promote either of two practice squad receivers, Gehrig Dieter or Josh Crockett.
The Chiefs will also face the Patriots without guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who broke his leg and tore ligaments in his ankle during last week's game, and two of their top safeties, Eric Murray (ankle) and Armani Watts (groin). Both players were also injured in last week's game.
Duvernay-Tardif and Watts were placed on the injured reserve list this week.
The Chiefs listed linebacker Justin Houston as doubtful for the Patriots game on the week's final injury report. Houston didn't practice all week, making him unlikely to play.
