<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">Williams will miss game because of hand injury</span></strong></p><p>Chiefs linebacker Demorrio Williams suffered a hand injury in practice Tuesday that will keep him out of Saturday&#8217;s preseason game at Miami and could cause him to miss next week&#8217;s preseason finale against St. Louis.</p><p>Herm Edwards said Williams has a cracked bone in his hand but will be expected to play in the Chiefs&#8217; season opener Sept. 7 at New England.</p><p>Williams&#8217; hand was wrapped Wednesday, and he did not participate in the Chiefs&#8217; practice. Edwards said Williams could return to practice next week, but Williams said doctors told him he will not be available for either of the final two preseason games.</p><p>The injury adds to an already depleted linebackers corps and will force a rookie into Saturday&#8217;s starting lineup. Donnie Edwards has a bad hamstring, and Napoleon Harris has an injured knee. Neither has played in a preseason game.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got some guys that are nicked a little bit,&#8221; Herm Edwards said, &#8220;but hopefully they&#8217;re getting better.&#8221;</p><p>Rookie free agent Weston Dacus is likely to start in Williams&#8217; spot Saturday. &#8220;We&#8217;ll find a body or two,&#8221; Edwards said.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Line concerns Edwards</span></strong></p><p>For the third consecutive season, the players the Chiefs have identified as their starting offensive linemen will complete the preseason without practicing together.</p><p>Edwards said before training camp that he wanted the Chiefs&#8217; line, which is far younger than last year&#8217;s, to get used to each other and gain some chemistry before the regular season begins. That almost definitely will not happen.</p><p>Left tackle Branden Albert has been recovering from a sprained foot that will cause him to miss the preseason, and right tackle Damion McIntosh has battled mild injuries, including a twisted ankle that kept him out of Wednesday&#8217;s practice.</p><p>&#8220;It gives other guys opportunities,&#8221; Edwards said, &#8220;but you&#8217;d like them all to be there. Now they were here in the spring, but that&#8217;s not pads; it&#8217;s different in the spring.&#8221;</p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="subhead">What you need to know about ...</span></strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">THE OFFENSE </span></strong><br /> Rookie tackle Barry Richardson stepped in Wednesday for Damion McIntosh but was whistled for a false start during team drills. &#8230; Guard Adrian Jones also could play tackle if the Chiefs have a shortage at the position. &#8230; For the third consecutive day, running back Jamaal Charles did not practice because of a sore shoulder. &#8230; Edwards said rookie tight end Brad Cottam&#8217;s sore shoulder is getting better.</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">THE DEFENSE </span></strong><br /> Donnie Edwards (hamstring) did some lateral running in individual workouts but did not wear pads or participate in team activities. &#8230; Cornerback Rashad Barksdale intercepted a pass in the end zone Wednesday while playing man-to-man coverage against receiver Sergiori Joachim. Both players went up for the ball near the right corner, and Barksdale came down with it. &#8230; Rookie defensive end Brian Johnston broke into the backfield and wrapped up Kolby Smith.</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">INJURY REPORT </span></strong><br /> Left tackle Albert (foot), wide receiver Kevin Robinson (knee), linebacker Harris (knee), running back Charles (shoulder), tight end Cottam (shoulder), cornerback Tyron Brackenridge (hamstring), right tackle McIntosh (ankle), linebacker Williams (hand) and linebacker Edwards (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. </p><p></div>