Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey missed his fifth consecutive game Sunday because of the groin injury he suffered in October in New England.

But Monday he said, yes, he's feeling better. Yes, it's driving him crazy to stand on the sideline. And, yes, he will play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High (2:05 p.m., CBS 4).

At least if it's up to him, that is.

"I definitely want to be out there when we clinch this division. I'll be out there this week one way or the other," Bailey said Monday. "I'm saying I'm going. Unless something else happens, I'll be out there."

Bailey has practiced on a limited basis the past two weeks and worked out in cleats at the team's Dove Valley complex Monday.

But Broncos coach Mike Shanahan wasn't willing to commit beyond general optimism that Bailey could play against the Chiefs.

"We'll see how he practices," Shanahan said. "He seems to be getting better. He practiced a little bit last week. . . . Hopefully that's a good sign."

Bailey, who had missed only three games in his previous nine NFL seasons combined, has seen the team go 3-2 in the games he has missed. That total now includes road wins at Atlanta and at the Jets, two teams that have won at least eight games this season.

Rookie Josh Bell has started the past three games in Bailey's left cornerback spot, and Karl Paymah started the first two games Bailey missed with the injury. Bell has played well enough that the Broncos have even left him alone on opposing receivers from time to time.

It allowed the Broncos to mix things up in coverage, as well as give Dre Bly some help deep with a safety from time to time. That has allowed Bly to play far more aggressively to the underneath side of the receiver and play the ball.

Both of Bly's interceptions this season have come in the past three games.

"That's special to see how the young guys have played all over the defense," Bailey said. " . . . But Josh has played really hard and he's a smart guy. He's really played with some confidence and kept his head up. But most important he's done whatever they've asked him to do.

"He's been in some tough spots and he keeps on playing."

Shanahan said he's hopeful linebacker Nate Webster (knee), who has missed the past three games, could be ready to return as well this week. D.J. Williams (knee) has missed four games and still is likely at least a week away from being able to play in a game.

Safety Marlon McCree, who has missed four games with a severely sprain ankle, said last week he was hopeful to practice on a limited basis in the coming week.

"Been testing myself for about two weeks now," Bailey said. "This is probably the best I've felt in two weeks. . . . I just want to get back out there. I don't like standing and watching while everybody else is out there trying to get us some wins. But you have to like the way guys have fought out there. I've been saying, those guys might not have expected to play this year as much as they have, but they have all had a lot of fight in them, and they're out there laying it all on the line."

The more you can do

At one point early in the season, Peyton Hillis was the Broncos' fullback.

Now, after watching him play as the team's primary running back, Shanahan said Monday he's prepared to formally add at least one more job title to the rookie's resume.

"He's proven he can play tailback and fullback," Shanahan said. "In fact, he's better with the ball in his hands. . . . He's going to get a chance to play more at tailback with what he's done. He can break tackles, and it really gives us a lot of flexibility."

So, even when Selvin Young is ready to return to the lineup - he has missed six of the past seven games with a groin injury and had only one carry in the other game - Hillis is still going to get his chances to carry the ball.

In fact, Shanahan said Monday he's going to look into expanding the rookie's job description beyond the backfield.

"I'm not sure he can't even go out there and . . . be a tight end-type guy with that size," Shanahan said. "(A) Dallas Clark type at the position, guys who can catch the ball and make plays downfield."

Hillis played running back some at the University of Arkansas, as well as tight end, H-back and punt returner.

"I always expect the best," Hillis said. "The coaches have confidence in me and want me to do well. I feel that."

Hillis is the only Broncos player this year to have a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game. He had 129 yards rushing in the win over the Jets on Sunday and 116 yards receiving in the loss to Miami.

"He's really done a good job," Shanahan said. " . . . He's done a lot of good things to help our Football team win."

Shaw out for year

Defensive tackle Josh Shaw is headed for injured reserve after suffering a dislocated left elbow against the Jets.

Shaw, who was wearing a heavy splint Monday, had a magnetic resonance imaging exam in the morning and some ligament damage was found.

Whether Shaw needs surgery will be decided after the MRI results are examined.

"Right now it doesn't look good," Shanahan said.

Nic Clemons will take Shaw's spot in the defensive line rotation. Shaw has suffered a severe cut on his leg this year that required 40 stitches and also missed time with a groin injury before hurting his elbow.

The Broncos are expected to look at players to fill Shaw's roster spot and could grab someone with experience in their defense. Antwon Burton, who started last season's opener at defensive tackle and has been waived by the Chiefs, is a possibility.

Etc.

* Linebacker Spencer Larsen, defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban and safety Marquand Manuel, who all left the field with injuries Sunday, are initially expected to practice this week and be available vs. the Chiefs.

* The Broncos also liked what they saw from veteran Vernon Fox at free safety Sunday. He was the fourth player to start there in the last five games, and he is expected to start there against the Chiefs.

* Rookie safety Josh Barrett, recently signed from the practice squad, played extensively in the Broncos' six defensive back package against the Jets, and Shanahan said he graded out favorably as well. "Maybe we should have been playing him a little bit earlier," Shanahan said of the seventh-round draft pick. "He made some plays in pass defense. He's got something you can't coach and that's size and speed."

He said it

"It's far from over . . . We've got to worry about our business."

Shanahan, on the Broncos' chances of clinching the AFC West with a win Sunday.

Numbers game

2home teams, Tampa Bay and Miami, won Sunday. Ten visiting teams, including the Broncos, won the other games.

INFOBOX

Air cover

With Champ Bailey saying he's ready to return to action, here are the passing attacks that remain on the Broncos' schedule:

Pass yards NFL Opponent per game rank

Kansas City 189.7 23

at Carolina 192.6 22

Buffalo 211.6 15

at San Diego 236.3 9