KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs could be without their two top pass rushers against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Sunday after Tamba Hali and Justin Houston were hurt against San Diego. Hali had an MRI exam on his sprained ankle Monday that came back better than the Chiefs had expected, while Houston had to postpone an MRI exam on his elbow due to swelling. "They werent able to get him in the position that they wanted him to do the MRI," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, "so well wait a day or so to get the swelling down." Hali rolled over his ankle in the first half of Sundays 41-38 loss to the San Diego Chargers, and was helped gingerly off the field. He was driven on a cart to the locker room and didnt return, and afterward was seen hobbling around on a pair of crutches. Reid joked that Hali was down to one crutch on Monday, "so were halfway there." Hali has nine sacks on the season, tied for fifth in the NFL entering the weekend, and needed just two more to pass Art Still (73) for the third-most in franchise history. The two-time Pro Bowl selection is among the most dependable players on the team, rarely missing a game. "Hell continue to work this week. He was in moving around a little better today than he was after the game," said Reid, who wasnt sure whether Hali would practice on Wednesday. "Well just see how he does," Reid said. "He made big improvements, but we just have to see how he does. He was on crutches after the game and then today he was able to walk in the pool." Reid sounded less upbeat about the prognosis for Houston, who landed awkwardly on his right arm while chasing down a play shortly before halftime. Reid called the injury a subluxation of the elbow, which is essentially a minor dislocation of the joint, and said he wasnt surprised that he was unable to have an MRI exam Monday. "It swelled up. You could see it after the game," Reid said. "They tried to keep the swelling down but you could see it was puffing up a little bit after the game when we were in the locker room, and then overnight it swelled up even more. I get it. I understand how that works." Houston, who entered the weekend tied for third in the NFL with 11 sacks, appeared in the Kansas City locker room on Monday with his arm tightly bound and in a sling. When he was approached by reporters, Houston said he was told not to say anything. Frank Zombo would be first off the bench if either of the Chiefs outside linebackers is unable to play against Denver. He backed up Clay Matthews with the Green Bay Packers last season. "He can do either side. Hes played a little football," Reid said. "Hes in that group where he filled in and did a nice job. You saw the hurry that he had. He has pass rushing ability. Hes consistent. Hes a smart kid. Hes a consistent player." If Hali and Houston are both out, as they were Sunday, Dezman Moses would be called upon. "Thats my job. I dont feel any extra or any added pressure," Moses said Monday. "I definitely understand what needs to be done. Thats my job as a backup. When one of those guys goes down, you have to come in prepared and ready to fill in." In other injury news, offensive guard Jeff Allen finished the Chargers game despite a groin strain, and fellow guard Jon Asamoah is still recovering from a bruised shoulder that kept him out entirely. Right tackle Eric Fisher also has a shoulder injury and defensive tackle Mike DeVito a knee injury. Its unknown which of them will be available against the Broncos. "We cant let it be an excuse," Chiefs safety Kendrick Lewis said. "Injuries are part of the game, it could have happened to me. It could have happened to anyone." A.J. Derby Dolphins Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Danny Amendola Dolphins Jersey . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Mike-Gesicki-Jersey/ .C. -- Al Jefferson said he feels like hes playing the best basketball of his 10-year NBA career. Danny Amendola Jersey .J. -- All those records, all for naught. Jerome Baker Jersey . Pironkova, who was ranked outside the top 100 despite reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, beat three top 10 players in Sydney, 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Kerber. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dion Phaneufs contract extension wasnt a surprise, thanks in part to HBOs "24/7" reality series. "It was a little bit of a bad-kept secret at the end of it," the Toronto Maple Leafs captain said Tuesday after the new agreement was announced. That Phaneuf was worth US$49 million over seven years to the Leafs was also no secret. The teams No. 1 defenceman plays every situation for Toronto which makes him arguably the most irreplaceable player on the roster. "He plays some pretty tough minutes, and his plus-minus has gone in the right direction playing those minutes, against the best players, starting in his own end, most defensive zone faceoffs, all those things," general manager Dave Nonis said. "And hes done that, and hes welcomed it, I think hes improved at it." Phaneuf has a long way to go before hes considered among the elite captains in franchise history, but the 28-year-old Edmonton native fits the teams current needs perfectly. No one on the Leafs plays more minutes (24:21 a game), and his four goals are the most on the blue- line. He plays more on the power play than anyone else and more on the penalty kill than anyone except for defensive centre Jay McClement. Hes not the same player the Leafs acquired from the Calgary Flames in early 2010. "I definitely feel that my game has grown with experience and playing in the league," said Phaneuf, who was understandably all smiles at his Michigan Stadium news conference on the day of Winter Classic practices. "You grow as a player, and Ive learned a lot of things over my time since Ive started, and I feel Im a better player today than I definitely was when I started and in my time in Calgary, thats for sure." Phaneuf has developed into someone Nonis considers a "pillar" the Leafs can build around. So much of what they do on the ice is built around him, and if he were to get injured there isnt a defenceman who possesses the ability to fill his skates. But Nonis insisted that wasnt the reason the Leafs ponied up and signed Phaneuf, who would have been an unrestricted free agent July 1. "We signed Dion to this deal because he deserved it," Nonis said. "Hes going to play at this level or beyond, I feel, for seven years, again, maybe beyond that. Its not that you dont have anyone to replace Dion, its that hes done enough to prove to us that he is a player that is near the top of the league in terms of how he stacks up against the top defencemen. ... "Its not that we dont have anyone to replace him. I think if thats why we were signing him, wed be making a mistake." On the ice, Phaneuf makes mistakes. He has an element to his game that Nonis acknowledged that includes taking chances to jump up in the play or lay a hit on an opponennt.dddddddddddd. Part of that is what has made Phaneuf such a polarizing player in the eyes of fans. He has shown plenty of flaws, but ultimately hes a big, minute-logging defenceman who provides a mix of offence (four goals, 11 assists) and physicality. "Dions always going to have a little bit of risk to his game, but I believe hes lowered that," Nonis said. "Hes taken less big chances, less risky pinches, he still likes the big hit but hes not running at people the way he did early on. All those things are just a function of maturity." Phaneuf has matured into not just a better defenceman but a better leader. This is his fourth season as captain. "Ive definitely grown into the role, and Ive learned a lot," Phaneuf said. "Id be lying if I sat up here and said I cant. Im very comfortable in the role." The Leafs were comfortable enough with Phaneuf in that role that they rewarded him handsomely with this deal. Phaneuf will make US$8 million in each of the first two seasons, then $7.5 million, $7 million, $6.5 million, $6.5 million and then $5.5 million in 2020-21. Nonis said hes not concerned about the length of the deal. "Dion was going to get seven years regardless. If we werent going to pay him, hes going to get it (in free agency)," Nonis said. "I think hell play beyond the term of his contract. Hes not in his 30s. Hes in his 20s. His game is rounding out and its getting better. I dont think theres any reason why he cant play the seven years and then look for another contract." Theres no guarantee Phaneuf plays the entire contract with the Leafs, given that he has only a limited no-trade clause. Nonis doesnt believe in giving players full no-movement clauses, so Phaneuf didnt get one. None of the players Toronto has signed long-term -- forwards Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, David Clarkson, Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul -- have full no-trade clauses in their contracts. "The core is always going to be somewhat movable," Nonis said. "Its not locked in stone for eight years that these guys are all going to be here. We signed them because we believe theyre part of a winning team, that they can be part of something, but it doesnt mean that were locked into anybody." The Leafs arent locked into Phaneuf, but this deal represents a major commitment, even with the salary cap expected to rise above $71 million next year and continue to increase. Phaneuf locked himself in rather than test the unrestricted-free-agent market, and though he thought about that possibility, he called this an easy decision. "I really believe that were building something special," he said. "That is a very big decision, and one that Im very happy with in the way that I chose to go." 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