CINCINNATI -- The Denver Broncos likely have lost one of their most decorated players for the remainder of the regular season, as cornerback Chris Harris Jr. suffered a fractured right fibula against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Harris, who has not missed a regular-season game since the 2012 season, was injured with just under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Harris appeared to have been kicked or stepped on on a 7-yard completion from Bengals quarterback Jeff Driskel to A.J. Green.
"Man, I don't know what happened,'' Harris said. "I just felt pain.''
Harris said he didn't think he was going to need surgery, but he will evaluated more Monday morning. He did not have a walking boot or cast of any kind on his right lower leg when he left the stadium, but he was using crutches.
Asked if he thought he could be back for the playoffs if the Broncos made it, he said: "I hope so, I think it could happen.''
"That's hard, everybody in Broncos Country knows what (Harris) means to our secondary and our team,'' Von Miller said. "That was huge right there.''
Harris could not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the bench before he was taken to the locker room on a cart. Harris missed two playoff games -- the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl 50 -- with a torn ACL following the 2015 regular season.
"We'll see,'' coach Vance Joseph said about whether Harris could return this season. "... We'll see moving forward.''
But Harris worked feverishly in the next offseason and had played in every game since.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, only linebacker Von Miller has been honored more times in the Broncos' defense.
It was part of a difficult day for the team's defense. Defensive end Derek Wolfe (ribs) and linebacker Josey Jewell (ankle) also left the lineup with injuries during the first half while cornerback Tramaine Brock (ribs) and linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) were game-day inactives.