Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris expects to be available to play Sunday night in Kansas City, his first game since Nov. 1.
Harris missed the Atlanta game because he was deemed a high-risk close contact for COVID-19 and has missed the last three games after testing positive. He was activated from the COVID-19/reserve list Wednesday.
“As of today, he will play unless he has any setbacks,” coach Vic Fangio said this morning. “He won’t be able to play his normal allotment of plays. We’re going to have to get him in and out of there a bunch.”
Harris did a media Zoom conference before practice.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel that awful,” he said. “That first week, I didn’t have anything wrong and I was testing negative and my family tested positive.”
Describing his symptoms, Harris said: “I had the chills and cold sweats for a day or two and I was pretty much fine. It was more the after-effects, like weird nerve pains and just stuff that was unexplainable. I’m telling you, that stuff was crazy. I’m truly happy to be healthy and back playing football.”
Harris said the lack of conditioning is “real. I didn’t really do anything for four weeks. It’s about getting back into shape and however many plays that is, you want to make sure you’re going 100% on every play.”
Harris praised the Broncos’ training staff for not over-pushing him this week and asking for constant feedback on how he feels.
“There’s no way I can play 60, 70, 80 snaps — that’s impossible,” he said. “It’s all about managing and (the team has) been doing a great job all week of making sure I’m good. I can’t put a number on it, but I’ll be out there.”
Other pre-practice notes:
*Fangio said Demar Dotson will start at right tackle against Kansas City. Dotson was replaced by Elijah Wilkinson for the second half of the New Orleans game.
*Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who has missed five consecutive games with coronavirus, could possibly travel with the team Saturday to Kansas City.
“I feel pretty confident that he (will) be there,” Fangio said. “I think they’re trying to weigh the night-game and getting him back here late and interrupting his rest. We’re going to decide on Saturday whether he goes to the game.”
Earlier this week, Fangio said once Donatell can attend games, he would likely be in the coach’s box and not the sideline.
*Safety Trey Marshall (shin) has been ruled out and Fangio expects running back Phillip Lindsay (knee), outside linebacker Malik Reed (shin) and receiver Jerry Jeudy (ankle) to be listed as questionable later Friday.
