ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos are preparing to not have star running back J.K. Dobbins for Sunday’s big game against Kansas City.

Dobbins, fifth in the NFL in rushing with 772 yards, did not practice Thursday for the second day in a row at Broncos Park due to a left foot injury. He has not practiced since being hurt in a 10-7 win over Las Vegas on Nov. 6.

Also not participating again in Denver’s second practice of the week were star cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral), linebacker Alex Singleton (illness), outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (hamstring), and tight end Nate Adkins (knee).

Surtain, the reigning NFL Defensive Player, is expected to miss his third straight game after straining his left pectoral muscle Oct. 26 against Dallas. Singleton has already been ruled out for Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High after undergoing surgery last Friday for testicular cancer. Elliss is in jeopardy of not playing after being hurt against the Raiders.

Adkins has missed the past two games after also being hurt against the Cowboys. He did stretch with the team before Thursday’s workout and then went to a side field.

The Broncos (8-2) listed as limited in the practice, defensive end John Franklin-Myers, with a back injury. They did get back wide receiver Trent Sherfield after he missed Wednesday’s workout with a toe injury. Sherfield said he will be “good to go” against the Chiefs (5-4).

“It sucks, the injuries,’’ said guard Quinn Meinerz. “That’s the worst part of this league. Everyone’s dealing with them.”

Meinerz is optimistic that rookie RJ Harvey will fill in well for Dobbins. The Broncos also will have available at running back Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin, who has been inactive for all but one game this season despite rushing for 906 yards in the past two Denver seasons.

“I think RJ is ready for the challenge,’’ Meinerz said. “It is unfortunate to have a guy like J.K. (injured), that’s been such an influential person on our offense. … Now, it’s RJ’s turn and bring Jaleel. We’ll have a good little crew here.”

The Denver Gazette reported Tuesday that the Broncos are considering placing Dobbins on injured reserve. Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that no decision had been made regarding that.

The Broncos have said Singleton “could return to play in the coming weeks pending additional test results.”

“When he told me last week (about the cancer diagnosis), my first thoughts were him and his family,’’ said defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. “It wasn’t about football. Like, ‘Take care of your family and make sure you’re OK.’ … He is so resilient. He was smiling the whole time. I was super upset, but he was smiling and, ‘I’m going to be all right. We caught it early.’”

Veteran Christian ready to help

Veteran tackle Geron Christian is ready to help the Broncos in any way he can.

Christian was plucked off the Cowboys’ practice squad Tuesday and has practiced with Denver the past two days. Christian, 29, is an eight-year veteran who has played in 63 regular-season games with 25 starts for five teams.

“I’m excited,’’ he said. “I’ve been around. I got experience. … I’m a guy who can come in and be ready to play. … If any of the younger guys need tips, I’ll always help them.”

Meinerz said Christian’s experience will help “a ton.”

“I know he’s a swing tackle and seems to know what he’s doing,’’ Meinerz said. “When you play in this league long enough and you bounce around, you learn a handful of offenses and learn how to translate (them).”

Christian, a third-round pick by Washington in 2018, has played for Washington, Kansas City, Houston, Cleveland, and the Los Angeles Rams. He appeared in 10 games for the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in 2022 before he was sent down to the practice squad and then plucked off it by Miami near the end of the regular season. He did end up getting a Super Bowl ring.

“I missed the Super Bowl, but it was a great experience for me,’’ he said of that season. I got to go to the ring ceremony (the following summer), but it would have been nice to experience the confetti (after the 38-35 win over Philadelphia).”

Crawshaw’s trying night

After Broncos rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw had a trying game against the Raiders on Thursday Night Football, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said it came down to the windy conditions and how he dropped the ball.

Crawshaw averaged 41.9 yards gross and 38.7 net on seven punts. After shanking three early punts, he did settle down.

“Both sides were having issues with the operation,’’ said Rizzi, noting A.J. Cole of the Raiders had a punt blocked and also dropped a ball when the Broncos didn’t have a rush on. “It was kind of an odd day. It was probably one of the most unique wind days that I’ve been a part of. It wasn’t that big of a deal in pregame.”

The wind, listed at 10 mph at kickoff, then picked up.

“Jeremy, his whole deal was with his drops, and the ball was moving on him in the air when he was dropping the ball,’’ Rizzi said. “That’s really (what it) came down to. So the first couple, really the first one, had nothing to do with that. It was just a mishit. The next couple had something to do with the ball moving on the drop. …He fixed it as the game went on. … We have to be better there.”

Briefly

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a 59-yard field-goal attempt well short against the Raiders. Rizzi said Lutz “hit a 62-yarder into the net” before the game so the Broncos “felt kind of comfortable with” the attempt. But he said Lutz “didn’t have a clean hit.” … Joseph called it “challenging’ to prepare for Kansas City’s many fast receivers. “It’s a track team,’’ he said. …The Broncos have the NFL’s longest home winning streak at 10 games, but are a 3.5 underdog to the Chiefs.