Running back Priest Holmes will not return to the Chiefs this season. However, Chiefs GM Carl Peterson said Tuesday that medical tests on Holmes have been encouraging and Holmes hopes to return for the 2007 season. Tuesday was the last day the Chiefs could have activated Holmes.

Rushing leader Larry Johnson made the Broncos' fifth-ranked run defense look ordinary. Johnson ran for 157 yards, Lawrence Tynes kicked four field goals and Kansas City inaugurated the league's new Thanksgiving tripleheader with a 19-10 victory. The Chiefs (7-4) charged into a second-place tie with Denver in the AFC West and gave the Broncos (7-4) their first two-game losing streak since late in 2004.

Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt was in a Dallas hospital for undisclosed reasons Thursday night and was not able to attend the Denver-Chiefs game.

Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez missed his first start since 1999 on Sunday against the Raiders. Gonzalez was declared inactive before the game. The Chiefs' leading receiver injured his shoulder last week at Miami. He was joined on the inactive list by left guard Brian Waters, starting right tackle Kevin Sampson and starting linebacker Derrick Johnson.

A day after receiving medical clearance to play again, quarterback Trent Green has been given the go-ahead to start. Chiefs coach Herman Edwards announced on Wednesday that Green will start in Sunday's game against the Raiders.

More than two months after he was knocked unconscious in Kansas City's season opener, Trent Green was given medical clearance to play again. Whether he or Damon Huard will start on Sunday against Oakland remains unclear, however. Coach Herm Edwards said earlier in the day that whatever decision he made would remain a secret until game time.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez is the latest Chiefs all-star sidelined. The seven-time Pro Bowler sprained his left shoulder in the closing minutes of Sunday's 13-10 loss at Miami. More will be known with test results on Tuesday, but he will definitely miss Sunday's game against Oakland.

On Tuesday, the Chiefs started the three-week clock on Priest Holmes and defensive back William Bartee, who began the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Holmes, 33, has been inactive since suffering head and neck trauma against San Diego on Oct. 30, 2005. He did not participate in training camp and has remained at his home in San Antonio this season. He has undergone examinations by medical specialists in the hopes of being activated before the end of this season. ?I mentioned at the beginning of the season we were going to keep this window open as long as possible,? said Peterson. ?If we can keep this window open through 12 weeks, we?re benefited by that.?

Coach Herm Edwards, who has been saying for weeks that Trent Green would replace Damon Huard as the Chiefs' starting quarterback when he is healthy, appeared to back off the subject. "The one thing you can never count out is chemistry on your football team, and that is very important," Edwards said. "At this point, I don't have to make that decision. It will be a decision I'll make." Huard's excellent play -- 11 touchdown passes and only one interception in seven starts -- has split fans. Green could be back Nov. 19 against Oakland. Radio talk shows have been abuzz and the Kansas City Star conducted an election-type reader poll as to which quarterback should play.