Niko Koutouvides might have run out of chances to play defense this season.

But the Broncos linebacker remains a fixture on special teams and is doing his best to try and remain upbeat through his disappointment.

"Playing Football is always a positive," he said.

Koutouvides, a top special-teams performer with Seattle who was stuck behind Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu on defense before departing for Denver, was in the mix as a starter at middle linebacker from the moment he signed a three- year, $7.5 million contract in March.

He rotated every two days with Nate Webster at middle linebacker in training camp with the first team. The two split time in preseason games, too, before Webster won out after the third exhibition contest.

Webster sprained a medial collateral ligament in his knee Nov. 6 and Koutouvides replaced him. But after getting credited with one tackle and one assist in that game, Kou- touvides was back to reserve duties.

"I took a shot early on a crack block right in the temple and kind of got a little out of it," said Koutouvides, adding he felt "rusty" that night. "Still, it doesn't matter, you've got to play at a high level, and I didn't get it done. I was disappointed in my play also, and they just felt they wanted to see a couple other guys in there."

Rookie Spencer Larsen got the call at middle linebacker in Atlanta. Newcomer Mario Haggan also has since played some there, while Koutouvides has since taken practice snaps at weak-side linebacker behind Wesley Woodyard, the replacement for injured D.J. Williams.

With Webster and Williams getting healthier, Koutouvides figures to be pushed lower down the depth chart in the near term.

Still, Koutouvides managed to have his best special-teams effort his season against the Jets on Sunday, with three tackles.

The performance pulled him into a tie with Larsen for the team lead in special-teams stops (nine).

"Just because I'm not a starter, I'm not going to let it ruin my year," he said.

"I'm not going to throw people under the bus and say, 'I should be starting. What's going on?' That's not how I roll."

New on the Web

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall has launched a new Web site, bmarshall15.com.

The site will feature a blog in which Marshall plans to keep fans updated about his life.

"This is my way of showing (fans) who I am as a person, and not the guy with the helmet on all the time," he said in a statement.

Red-hot Gonzo

Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez has been a primary weapon since Tyler Thigpen became Kansas City's quarterback.

In his past four starts, Gonzalez has caught 33 passes for 375 yards with three touchdowns. That includes two straight 100-yard games on 18 total receptions.

"For any of us that have to guard him, you've just got to know he's a great player," said Broncos strong safety Marquand Manuel, who might have some coverage responsibilities Sunday.

Gonzalez had three catches for 47 yards, including a 10-yard TD reception in traffic and a 23-yard grab in the Sept. 28 win against Denver.

"He was getting a little frustrated when he wasn't getting it, but he came out and played their game plan well," Manuel said, adding Kansas City that day emphasized the run.

"They tried to mix and match and not go to him every time, and when we did cover him, we covered him down. At the same time, if you go to somebody 90 times a game, he's going to get some balls."

Milestone in reach

Broncos kicker Matt Prater will reach 100 points for the first time in his career if he scores eight points Sunday.

He had only four points last season in stops with the Broncos and Atlanta Falcons but said Thursday that reaching triple digits isn't one of his primary goals.

"It's just a number. I don't think about it like that," he said. "I base it on field-goal percentages and kickoff touchbacks. I try not to think about scoring a bunch of points."

Nine kickers already have reached at least 100 points this season. Prater currently ranks tied for seventh in the AFC in scoring.

Injury report

* The Broncos listed Williams (knee) as a full participant in practice Wednesday, but he was limited Thursday. Cornerback Champ Bailey (groin) still hasn't gone through an entire practice, either. "They were a little bit sore," coach Mike Shanahan said.

* Linebacker/fullback Larsen (groin/hip) went through a partial workout as the Broncos worked indoors. Ebenezer Ekuban (back) returned to practice in limited fashion, and safety Marlon McCree did some drills for the first time since suffering a sprained ankle in the Miami loss Nov. 2.

* Webster (knee) appears on track to play Sunday.

Numbers game

14running backs with at least one 100-yard rushing game for Denver since the 1995 season after Peyton Hillis' performance against the Jets on Sunday. Hillis is the sixth Broncos runner since 2006 with a triple-digit individual effort after Tatum Bell, Mike Bell, Michael Pittman, Selvin Young and Travis Henry.

He said it

"At any position, to be successful and be the top in your field, it's about consistency. It's about going out there each and every game and doing what you're supposed to do and doing it effectively. There's times this year that I haven't played my best games. Coincidentally, they've been against some opponents that we feel like we should have handled pretty easily." Jay Cutler, Broncos quarterback

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Road kill

The Chiefs have never won at Invesco Field since the facility opened in 2001. The longest current active losing streaks at NFL stadiums:

No. Team Opponent's stadium (opponent) Last game at site (date)

9 Cincinnati Oakland Coliseum (Oakland) L 23-20 (Sept. 14, 2003)

7 Buffalo Gillette Stadium (New England) L 20-10 (Nov. 9, 2008)

7 Kansas City Invesco Field (Denver) L 41-7 (Dec. 9, 2007)

6 Arizona Lambeau Field (Green Bay) L 31-14 (Oct. 29, 2006)