Broncos

Broncos QB Bo Nix enters the third year of his career after a mightily successful 2025 campaign that resulted in Denver reaching the AFC Championship. Denver HC Sean Payton said their next step for Nix is to support him with the rest of the offense. 

“The ‘next step’ is kind of cliché,” Payton said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN. “He just finished winning 14 games and having a really good season. Do I think he’s going to continue to improve? … I think there are certain areas for us offensively that can help with the quarterback, a consistent run game throughout the year. There are some things that we can do to help him.”

Broncos’ new OC Davis Webb has been impressed by how Nix progresses through his different reads. 

“We were really trying to evaluate … the last two years, how his first read on plays marries up the second read, depth-wise, playcall-wise, where we are at that point in the game,” Webb said. “… It’s noticeable the strides he’s making, hanging on [the first read], getting to two, to three.”

The majority of Nix’s completions were on passes on the perimeter outside the numbers. Payton said they are evaluating ways they can improve their passing attack and look at the analytics involved. 

“We’ll do that a lot in the spring self-scout,” Payton said. “Then we’ll look at — ‘All right, what are the things that maybe we need to be better at?’ But yes, we’ll look at hit charts, we’ll look at the analytics.”

Chargers

Chargers RB Kimani Vidal is splitting time with two other running backs but is taking advantage of the reps he is getting in camp and working with RB coach Max McCaffrey.

“I’m trying to get better every day,” Vidal said, via the team website. “Working towards the season trying to get better. I would say in the beginning of the offseason, it was a little more rehab. Mostly because at the end of the [first] year I didn’t play as much. This year was more taking a step back at the end of the season and getting my body right and wrapping it up from there. It feels good, getting players out in space. A lot is predicated on speed, timing. It’s great to have that first game and work through some of that stuff.”

“I’m hard on myself so I was wanting more,” Vidal continued. “But I think it was a good first step, good first time getting out there and good time getting your feet wet and getting back in the flow of the season. More so getting off at the snap. Especially with the wide zone stuff, that’s probably the main important thing for running backs. Some of the little nuances we do in the receiving game for the running backs, but that’s obviously more situational.”

“We have a great coach, and he’s been in the system for a little while,” Vidal concluded, referencing McCaffrey. “Having a good teacher really helps. Then having Alec, too, a vet like that that has been in the system longer than Max McCaffrey is huge for us. Top to bottom, the guys are legit. Everyone is here for a reason… I think all guys can contribute at some point during the season.”

Chiefs

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice served a 30-day jail sentence in May as part of pleading guilty to his involvement in a multi-car crash. Rice said the experience was a “reality check” and is doing well mentally since then. 

“It was a learning experience and a reality check,” Rice said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN. “Don’t focus on the past. Focus on what’s going on now. I’m doing [well] mentally. It was mentally tough. They gave me ways to communicate with my teammates still and as well as my athletic trainer. Besides the hard times in there, I kept my mind right watching shows and as much [of comedian] Kevin Hart as I could to laugh.”

Rice underwent a cleanup operation on his right knee a week before his jail sentence. The receiver said he didn’t initially expect to undergo surgery. 

“Honestly, I thought it was probably a bit of swelling,” Rice said. “I didn’t know it was something that needed to have surgery. We’re kind of taught to just keep going until you can’t anymore. It was the perfect time for me to get it cleaned up so that it wouldn’t affect me for this season.”

Rice said he’s ready to “dominate” in 2026 and expects the targets to get spread around their offense this season. 

“I’m 100% locked in on what’s going on now with the team,” Rice said. “I’m ready to go out there and dominate. I’ve got a good group of brothers behind me. I would want to improve the most on certain plays that I know specifically aren’t coming to me, just because it’s a full [passing] concept and everybody is going to eat. Everybody’s got to get the ball.”