AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

• Per KUSA’s Mike Klis, the trial for the lawsuit contesting the Broncos current ownership trust has been set for July 12, 2021. It had been originally set for this past September but was postponed due to the pandemic. 
• Broncos CB Bryce Callahan has a bone issue in his foot, but not a break. He’s expected to miss a couple of weeks per HC Vic Fangio. (Klis)
• Fango said the Broncos will start minimizing how often QB Blake Bortles is around the team to prevent a repeat of Sunday: “We’re going to limit his exposure here.” (Ryan O’Halloran)
• He added Bortles and Broncos QBs Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel were all fined the standard amount for breaking the COVID-19 protocols. (Klis)

Chargers

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes Chargers HC Anthony Lynn is absolutely fighting for his job down the stretch in 2020. Unless things improve from the current 3-8 record, a contract extension with 2021 the final year of Lynn’s deal is unlikely. 
• If Los Angeles moves on from Lynn, Breer mentions Patriots OC Josh McDaniels as a strong candidate given his reputation as a strong developer of quarterbacks. He and Chargers GM Tom Telesco also both played wide receiver together on the same college football team. 
• Per Gilbert Manzano of the Orange County Daily Register, Lynn commented on the current state of his job security: “I like being here, I like my job. That’s not my decision.” 
• Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports Chargers DE Melvin Ingram and OL Ryan Groy are out for the rest of the season.  
• Patriots’ HC Bill Belichick said that Chargers’ WR Keenan Allen was the best that he has seen so far this year: “We have seen a lot of good receivers this year and I don’t know if there is anyone better than Allen. He plays all the spots. He can play inside, play outside. He is hard to tackle. Good quickness. Good size. Can separate.” (Fernando Ramirez)

Raiders

The Raiders started last season 6-4 before a four-game losing streak proved them to be pretend contenders. This year, Las Vegas was again 6-4 looking to prove things were different before an embarrassing blowout loss at the hands of the 3-7 Falcons. Raiders FB Alec Ingold called the moment “a gut check” for the team to prove itself one way or the other again.

“It’s a good opportunity to show how much better we are this year compared to last year,” Ingold said via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “To play a game in about the same scenario. How do we prepare? How do we show up for the game? How do we find a way to win? I think this next week is really going to show character and poise and team commitment levels.”