AFC Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

• The Broncos are trying out WR Amara Darboh, LB Shaquem Griffin, TE Kyle Markway, LB Gabe Sewell and WR De’Mornay Pierson-El.
• HC Vic Fangio highlighted WR Kendall Hinton as someone who has stood out in practice. (Mike Klis)
• Fangio added WR Jerry Jeudy left practice with an upset stomach. (Klis)
• Fangio expects LB Baron Browning to be healthy by training camp. (Klis)
• On RB Melvin Gordon, Fangio said he “seems to be in good shape.” (Troy Renck)
• Fangio mentioned QBs Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater are “both getting more comfortable with the offense and working faster. They have benefited greatly from the work we’ve done.” (Renck)
• Lock said he in the offseason he worked on “protection. And my footwork. It has changed a little bit and I feel comfortable.” (Renck)
• Lock added his motivation hasn’t changed: “I am going to put my head down and work until season is over. This is my job, my life. I want this team to be successful.” (Renck)
• Bridgewater said he played through pain in the second half of the season last year: “I should have shut it down for year but I love football.” (Renck)
• Fangio said WR Courtland Sutton should be healthy for training camp and isn’t expected to start on the PUP list. (Zac Stevens)

Chiefs

Offseason acquisition DT Jarran Reed has spent time getting acclimated with his new team and looks to Chiefs DT Chris Jones as an example to continue to model his game after.

“Chris is a great guy. You can tell that this is his team and I’m just following suit,” said Reed, via ChiefsWire. “He’s a great guy, great teammate, funny, he’s a real cool dude. His game is immaculate, it’s self-explanatory how he plays. One of the best there is in the league and of course we all watch each other and he’s everything he’s done, I see why. He puts in the work and he works hard every day.”

Both Reed and Jones have played quite a bit of three-technique in the past but Kansas City is looking to get creative with deploying both on the field at the same time, which would entail moving Jones to edge rusher. 

“I’m not surprised,” Reed said of Jones. “When you’re that caliber of a player, you should be able to move all along on the defensive line and I’m actually liking that side, stay at three-technique and he stays a D-End.”

• Chiefs DE Frank Clark said he has large goals for this year: “It’s always to get 10-plus. That’s always my goal. You get 15, that’s even better. You get 20, you’re in a whole different league. You’re talking defensive MVP.” (Adam Teicher)

Raiders

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby believes their defense must “get a lot better” after last season’s performance and mentioned that new DC Gus Bradley is putting a lot on their plate. 

“They’re putting a lot on us mentally so we can learn on the fly and get everything in, because on game day, you’re not calling every single call, but you’ve got to be ready. You’ve got to know everything and be prepared,” Crosby said, via the team’s official Youtube. “So coach Bradley does a great job. Me personally, I know once I mess up, I feel like that’s how I learn. Like, ‘Oh I messed up on that last time, I know that I need to do.’ And everybody’s different. So it’s been a great process. Everybody’s learning, everybody’s bought in. At the end of the day, our defense has got to get a lot better and we’re just working. That’s what we’re doing every single day and it’s been awesome.”

• Raiders RB Josh Jacobs‘ first reaction to the team losing OL Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson and Trent Brown was “Damn, what are we doing?” But he added he trusts the new offensive line after talking with the coaches. (Vic Tafur)
• Raiders QB Derek Carr doesn’t want to play for any other team: “I want to do it here. I probably would quit football if I had to play anywhere else.” (Paul Gutierrez)