Jovan Belcher joined the list of injured Kansas City defenders on Thursday, sitting out practice because of a sore groin muscle that he aggrevated on Wednesday.
Belcher became the seventh defensive player -- five of them starters -- to miss practice or be limited this week because of injury. The Chiefs are also without starting OLB Tamba Hali, who is suspended for the opener.
"I've got what I've got and we're going to go to battle with what we have," coach Romeo Crennel told the Kansas City Star. "That's what you have to do in this business."
Along with Belcher, NT Anthony Toribio (ankle), DE Allen Bailey (ankle) and S Kendrick Lewis (shoulder) did not practice on Thursday. LB Derrick Johnson (ankle), CB Brandon Flowers (foot) and CB Jalil Brown (ankle) were limited at practice.
Crennel said he would likely wait until Sunday to make his decisions on inactives, particularly with Flowers, who has not been a full participant at practice since July 31.
"You have to look at it objectively and you have to [weigh] the first game versus 15 others and having a guy available for 15," Crennel said. "I think that plays a big part in it. You as a coach have to do what you think is best for your team for the season."
LB Brandon Siler filled in for Belcher on Thursday. Siler, a former Charger, missed his first season in Kansas City because of a torn Achlilles tendon.
The one injured player who has said this week that he plans to play on Sunday is Johnson, who injured his ankle in the final preseason game against Green Bay last week.
"As long as I have enough confidence that I can run around, make plays and not hurt the team then I will be out there on Sunday," Johnson told KCChiefs.com. "I think I'll get more confidence as the game comes Sunday. My mindset is not to sit out this game. I've got to play this game. I've got to play."
Follow Chiefs reporter C.J. Moore on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLKC and @cjmoore4.
