AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos QB Drew Lock hasn’t exactly taken the leap forward the team was hoping for when it elected to go into 2020 with him as the unquestioned starter. Injuries, both to Lock and his supporting cast, haven’t helped, but Lock also isn’t doing himself any favors with shaky mechanics and fundamentals. He’s got a live arm and is capable of the highlight play but OC Pat Shurmur agreed that he could do a better job taking the layups instead of shooting the fadeaway. 

“I think he does throw the ball well on the run. I think when he throws from the pocket off balance and he doesn’t need to, I think that’s a fair assessment of your narrative,” Shurmur said via KUSA’s Mike Klis. “When he doesn’t need to, he shouldn’t. That’s what we are working on. Trust the protection. If it requires stepping up and throwing, step up and throw. If it requires sliding and throwing, do that. He’s got this basketball background where every once in a while it turns into a fadeaway. There’s times when you can get away with that. But then there’s other times when fundamentally you have to stay in rhythm and do what you need to do with your mechanics. He works on that daily.”

• Per Denver 7’s Troy Renck, Broncos first-round WR Jerry Jeudy picked up a shoulder contusion in the game this past week which is why he’s been limited at practice. 
• Broncos HC Vic Fangio said they won’t have OT Elijah Wilkinson this week, so if RT Demar Dotson can’t play they’ll turn to OT Jake Rodgers. (Klis)
• However, Rodgers missed practice Thursday with a shoulder injury, which would leave Calvin Anderson as the fifth man up at right tackle for the Broncos this season. (Klis)
• Broncos GM John Elway has been cleared to return to the office Friday after coming down with COVID-19 last week. However, CEO Joe Ellis is still dealing with symptoms. (Klis)

Chargers

• Per Gilbert Manzano of the Los Angeles Daily News, Chargers OC Shane Steichen says in the absence of RB Justin Jackson the team will roll whoever has the hot hand between fourth-round rookie Joshua Kelley, Troymaine Pope or Kalen Ballage: “It’s the flow of the game. You kinda go with it and see how it’s rolling. See how guys are playing.”

Raiders

Raiders QB Derek Carr said he is working on his timing with rookie WR Henry Ruggs in practice. 

“We’re hitting them in practice … (it’s) the timing of it, him understanding where I want to put those balls, me understanding a lot of these guys break differently. … We’re going to get there,” said Carr, via Vic Tafur. 

Raiders HC Jon Gruden feels that not having any fans in attendance in Las Vegas is reason to blame for their 1-2 home record. 

“We only got one fan that comes to the game, so we blame Bob Stiriti our security man,” Gruden said, via Tafur. “He’s our only fan. We have to get Bob Stiriti fired up to make some noise.”

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Raiders FB Alec Ingold broke two ribs but still plans to play through the injury this week.