AFC Notes: Broncos, Raiders, Ravens, Texans

Broncos

Broncos HC Vance Joseph stressed the importance of making opposing defenses to pay attention to their other receiving options, particularly their tight ends.

“We know we need to make defenses play us fair,” Joseph said, via ESPN.com. “To do that, we have to force them to honor other receivers, away from [Thomas] and Emmanuel. Our tight ends are part of that.”

According to Joseph, second-year TE Jake Butt finally looks healthy after essentially redshirting last year while recovering from a torn ACL.

“He looks healthy, finally,” Joseph said. “ … Right now, he’s totally healthy … We haven’t played a game yet, so I don’t know what Jake is going to be, but he’s very engaged, he’s worked hard, and he’s here every day.”

Raiders

• Mike Sando of ESPN reports that Jon Gruden has hired former ESPN rules expert and long-time referee Gerry Austin as a consultant.

Ravens

Ravens S Eric Weddle mentioned that the additions of Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III have “lit a fire” under QB Joe Flacco this offseason.

“He’s obviously been challenged,” Weddle said, via BaltimoreRavens.com. “We all are. As older players, every year is a prove-it year, and if you don’t believe that, you’re fooling yourself. I have to prove that I can still start in this league, that I can compete, that I should be a starter, that I should be on this team. If you don’t, then you’re going to be out of here.

“Now so with drafting Lamar and bringing Griffin in, it’s lit a fire under him. You can tell and he’s shown. He’s worked extremely hard.”

Texans

• On Thursday, the Texans signed LB Benardrick McKinney to a new five-year, $50 million extension (NFLTR).
• Regarding his new deal, McKinney tells Sirius XM NFL Radio: “Very important to get a new contract done and I want to thank the coaches for believing in me and it is overwhelming and I’m at a loss for words but I am happy to be in Houston at Inside Linebacker for many years.”