AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

The Broncos would love for third-round DL Dre’Mont Jones to play a major role this upcoming season. Denver drafted Jones for his ability to play defensive tackle in their nickel packages and defensive end in their base defense. Broncos HC Vic Fangio says Jones will “just be thrown in the mix with the other guys and let the competition play itself out.”

“I feel I have a chip on my shoulder just being considered a small defensive tackle,” Jones said via Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post. “I feel I can be out there and just be raw and be faster and just play nasty.”

• According to KUSA’s Mike Klis, the Broncos starting offensive line will be LT Garett Bolles, LG Dalton Risner, C Connor McGovern, RG Ronald Leary and RT Ja’Wuan James. 
• Aside from backup OT Elijah Wilkinson, Klis writes the backup offensive line positions are wide open between veterans Don Barclay and Jake Brendel and younger options Sam Jones and Austin Schlottmann.

Chargers

After seeing players like Darius Philon and Corey Liuget depart in free agency, Chargers 2018 third-rounder Justin Jones is the next man up at defensive tackle for the team. 

“I feel like I’m able to make that next step,” Jones said via Ricky Henne of the team website. “I feel I am going to make that next step. I put in a lot of work this offseason. I put in a lot of extra work with the guys after workouts and everything. Just getting my mind right, studying film. Taking the areas that I needed to improve on, just making those things better and just helping the guys out in my room just like they’re helping me.”

Chiefs

• Sports Illustrated’s Jenny Vrentas writes that the NFL has grounds to suspend Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill under the personal conduct policy, which lists “actual or threatened physical violence” among its prohibited behaviors.
• Hill threatened fiancée Crystal Espinal in a recording released by KCTV5, saying “you need to be terrified of me too, b—-,” which passes the minimum threshold for suspension, per Vrentas.