Kansas City, Mo. ? The injury-depleted Kansas City Chiefs were stretched even thinner Wednesday by family deaths that took away starting right tackle Chris Terry and starting linebacker Derrick Johnson.

Terry was making arrangements for the funeral on Saturday of his mother, coach Herm Edwards said, and Johnson hurried home Tuesday night when he got word that his father had died. Edwards said it was possible both would miss Sunday’s game against Denver.

Starting left tackle Damion McIntosh could not practice because of a knee injury and might also be out this week. Another starting linebacker, Donnie Edwards, was listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the second half of last week’s 24-10 loss to San Diego.

In addition, the Chiefs (4-8) listed backup offensive tackle Kyle Turley as questionable with a foot injury and third-team quarterback Tyler Thigpen was scheduled for an MRI exam after hurting his knee in practice.

So besides being down to second- and third-teamers at tackle and linebacker, the Chiefs might have only two quarterbacks when they try to halt a six-game losing streak in Denver, where they haven’t won since 2000.

“The plot thickens,” coach Edwards said with a wry smile. “I know one thing – after the cloud leaves, there’s a rainbow. When that comes, I don’t know.”

Quarterback Brodie Croyle, who missed last week’s game against San Diego with a back injury, practiced for the first time on Wednesday and will probably start. But there was still no guarantee of that.

Backup Damon Huard was OK on Wednesday, Edwards said, after being roughed up in the loss to San Diego while the depleted offensive line gave up eight sacks.

Thigpen finished the last few minutes of the San Diego game, with Huard feeling woozy on the bench.

If Thigpen is out, would the Chiefs take a chance on having only two quarterbacks for Denver?

“That wouldn’t be wise, I don’t think,” Edwards said. “But we’ll see. Unless we figure the third guy’s going to be an option quarterback and just run the option. You can’t just go to the grocery store and pick up a quarterback. It’s not like buying a fresh tomato. But there are some out there. There’s always a guy out there if you feel like you have to go get a guy.

“But if it’s not possible, you cross your fingers and go with two.”

The emergency quarterback is wide receiver Eddie Kennison, who played the position in high school.

“Eddie’s done it, but you don’t want to do that,” Edwards said.

If the Chiefs had played a game on Wednesday, their starting tackles would have been Will Svitek, a third-year man who has spent much of the season on the injury list with a bad ankle, and rookie Herb Taylor, a sixth-round pick. Neither has ever started a game.

The backup linebackers are Keyaron Fox, who also has been hurt much of the season, and either Pat Thomas or Kendrell Bell. Without Donnie Edwards directing the defense in the second half against the Chargers, LaDainian Tomlinson exploded for two long touchdown runs.