AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

• Bronco HC Vic Fangio confirmed that he’s been told he will stay on for the 2021 season. (Troy Renck)
• Broncos second-round WR KJ Hamler suffered a concussion and is in the protocol. (Klis)

Chargers

Chargers first-round QB Justin Herbert passed another milestone in a terrific rookie season, tossing his 28th touchdown pass Sunday which broke the NFL record for most in a debut. Herbert is also five completions and 340 passing yards away from breaking another couple of records in the team’s finale. 

“I think it means a bunch to our team,” Herbert said via Gilbert Manzano of the Southern California News Group. “I think it’s a season of all the hard work that we’ve put in this offseason, through these months of football and to have guys up front and some receivers and some running backs that make a lot of plays. It all goes to them.”

There’s a good chance when Herbert is looking to follow up his dynamic rookie year in 2021, he’ll be doing it without HC Anthony Lynn. While the Chargers have won three straight, Lynn was on very thin ice just a few weeks ago and it’s unclear if he’s done enough to save his job. For what it’s worth, Herbert vouched for Lynn’s leadership ability. 

“I haven’t really thought about (his job status) much, but I believe in this coaching staff and believe in these players with all my heart. There’s a lot of togetherness, and we play hard for each other,” Herbert said via NFL Media’s Michael Silver. “…I’d say he’s a leader. He’s one of the guys everyone looks to and wants to follow. He’s been a great mentor to me. We’ve gotten really close over the last couple of months. We’ve talked a lot about being a leader. It’s an honor to play for him.”

• Chargers S Rayshawn Jenkins has a high ankle sprain and likely won’t be able to play this week. (Daniel Popper)
• Lynn added CB Casey Hayward and OT Bryan Bulaga also likely won’t play in Week 17. (Jeff Miller)

Chiefs

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins is expected to miss the next two weeks with the calf injury he suffered Sunday. He should be ready for Kansas City’s first playoff game in the divisional round. 
• Per ESPN’s Adam Teicher, Chiefs HC Andy Reid said to expect to see backup QB Chad Henne at some point in Week 17 given Kansas City has clinched the No. 1 seed: “You might see Chad, if not at the beginning than sometime in there.”

Raiders

• Per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, Raiders HC Jon Gruden said Derek Carr would start ahead of Marcus Mariota in Week 17: “Derek will start and finish the season, just like we had anticipated he would. Whether Marcus has a role in this, we’ll wait and see.”
• Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell likely won’t play in Week 17, however. (Vic Tafur)