Broncos' DB Kareem Jackson pops up on Week 4 injury report

When it rains, it pours.

It turns out, DL Derek Wolfe and LB Josey Jewell weren't the Denver Broncos' only defensive starters to suffer an injury in Week 3's loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Starting safety Kareem Jackson also got banged up and heading into Week 4, he's going to be listed as 'questionable' on the Broncos' injury report with a hamstring. Jackson's injury came early in the Packers game, according to head coach Vic Fangio.

“Yeah, he’s questionable," Fangio said on Thursday. "All three of those guys are and it’s truly questionable.”

Jackson has been seeing double-duty the last two weeks, a few snaps at safety and most of his action coming as the Broncos' nickel cornerback. With Bryce Callahan's absence, Fangio has had to adjust and tweak his vision for the defense.

Chris Harris, Jr. went from being the nickel to playing strictly as an outside cornerback, drawing the opponent's No. 1 receiver, while Jackson has been tasked with dropping down into the slot and a combination of Isaac Yiadom and De'Vante Bausby handling the other outside duties.

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So, if Jackson is a no-go on Sunday vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars, what will Fangio's plan be? Duke Dawson, come on down!

“It brings other guys in," Fangio said. "Obviously, Duke Dawson may have to play in the nickel then.”

Dawson was claimed off waivers from New England on September 1. He was the Patriots' second-round pick a year ago and had a disappointing rookie season compromised by injury. The Broncos considered themselves fortunate to get him on waivers.

Dawson has only been in Fangio's scheme for not quite a month but he's picking it up and building momentum.

“It’s getting there," Fangio said. "It’s one of the hardest things to do. When you get a guy midseason or right after camp, everybody wants to get him ready, but yet you’re getting reps to the guys that are going to play. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but we have met with him. But meeting only takes you so far. You have to get on the field and [get] experience. He got a bunch of reps yesterday and he’ll get some today too.”

With the trio of Jackson, Wolfe and Jewell "truly questionable", the Broncos could be short-handed in Week 4. The silver lining is that Denver will draw a rookie QB making only his third career start in Gardner Minshew.

"There’s a common thought out there that you get after rookie quarterbacks," Fangio said. "Sometimes that’s the wrong thing to do because you make it easier for them. They see pressure and it makes it easier for them to decide where to throw the ball. This guy’s really good at his decision making. I think it’s just a good mix of everything.”

Only time will tell whether the Broncos will be up for the challenge but traditionally, Fangio's scheme is exactly the sort that confounds and overwhelms rookie signal-callers. Wouldn't that be nice?

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.

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