AFC Notes: Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Chargers

  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Chargers DE Melvin Ingram drew some trade interest during his “hold-in” but the matter was moot after the team guaranteed his salary. 
  • Chargers WR Mike Williams is considered week-to-week with a shoulder sprain suffered in practice Sunday. He did not break his collarbone but his return to play timeline has not been determined. (Ian Rapoport)

Chiefs

  • Per NBC Sports’ Peter King, Chiefs GM Brett Veach said to expect a big season from first-round RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: “He’s on pace to have a big year, to be our primary ballcarrier.”
  • Veach also said QB Patrick Mahomes was happy to work with the team to provide flexibility on his record-breaking deal: “Every last dime was not that important to Patrick, but having a chance to win every year was. He was committed to getting this done, committed to Kansas City. He’s so mature — he gets the big picture. He knows, also, that his ability to make money off the field in the next few years is endless.”
  • Chiefs G Kelechi Osemele missed practice with a shoulder injury. Osemele’s 2019 season ended due to a shoulder injury. (Matt Derrick)
  • Chiefs worked out C Daniel Kilgore. (Mike Jones)

Raiders

By most measures, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs had a very successful rookie season. He finished with 1,150 yards rushing and scored seven touchdowns, but the former first-round pick is a hard grader. 

“I would grade it a ‘B,'” Jacobs said via the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow. “There’s a lot of yards that I felt like I left on the table. It’s a lot of plays, and I feel like I could’ve contributed more. … So that’s probably the biggest thing.”

“I kind of established the run aspect of my game,” he added. “I feel like I want to improve that even more. Also, blocking, I want to put some of that on film. Obviously, catching too. My goal is to catch at least 60 balls this year.”

In addition to a shoulder injury that ultimately cost him three games, Jacobs wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game. He had just 20 catches for 166 yards and while the Raiders brought back RB Jalen Richard and drafted Lynn Bowden Jr. to serve as pass-catching backs, the team is also hopeful Jacobs can make improvements in that facet of his game. 

“We went into it in the offseason and that was how we approached him as well. We want you to become a complete running back, we need you to get better at route-running out of the backfield, as well as route-running from an extended formation,” Raiders OC Greg Olson said. “So, that was the homework assignment in the offseason. … That was probably the biggest area we were looking for improvement, and he can always get better in protection. That’s a big part as well. I think it’s difficult for a rookie to come in and master protection in one season, so we expected an improvement in that area as well.”

  • Raiders worked out LB Sharif Finch, DB Jameson Houston, and DB KeiVarae Russell. (Mike Jones)

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