AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

• According to the Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, she doesn’t see current Broncos trustee manager Joe Ellis firing GM John Elway regardless of how the team performs in 2019. 
• Jhabvala does mention Elway’s contract ends in 2021 and it will be interesting to see what happens depending on what Broncos ownership looks like at the time. 
• Elway mentioned that second-round OL Dalton Risner is the favorite to start at left guard. (James Palmer)
• Elways says Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders will not start camp on the PUP list and will practice: “He’ll practice from Day 1. We’ll work him in slowly.” (Jhabvala)
• Elway and the Broncos are high on WR Courtland Sutton‘s potential: “He’s only scratched the surface of what we think he can do. … We’re thrilled he’s on our team.” (Kyle Fredrickson)
• Elway believes Broncos QB Joe Flacco will have something to prove this year and the team will be better for it: “He has the ability to make every throw, has a strong arm, he moves well in the pocket. I think a lot of guys, the success comes from the system. … And when you get traded two-thirds into career, you have something to prove.” (Troy Renck)
• Broncos HC Vic Fangio told reporters RB Phillip Lindsay is “is ready to go. We’ll ease him in.” (Ryan O’Halloran)
• Fangio says they’re still sorting out where CBs Chris Harris, Bryce Callahan and S Kareem Jackson will play, whether it’s outside corner, nickel or safety: “We still have some things to figure out, as far as how we align our secondary, some starters up front, and some packages. But we have some versatility. We have three players who have played nickel, and that’s unusual.”(Jhabvala)
• Fangio has high expectations for Broncos LB Von Miller, wanting to get him to around 85-90 percent of the snaps and put Miller to be in the conversation for defensive player of the year. (Jeff Legwold)
• Miller highlighted veteran LB Dekoda Watson as one of the standouts in the battle for backup linebacker: “I don’t think there’s a guy in the league that has a get-off like Dekoda. He’s a special guy.” (Jhabvala)

Chargers

• According to Bleacher Reports’ Mike Freeman, Chargers RB Melvin Gordon believes the team will cave to his demands for a new contract or another team will trade for him if his holdout extends into the regular season. 
• If Gordon were to hold out the entire season without a trade or new deal, the final year of his rookie contract would roll over to 2020 and he would still be under contract for the same amount. 

Chiefs

• According to Bleacher Reports’ Mike Freeman, league sources say the NFL still isn’t close to a decision on a suspension Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill.
• The NFL is still sorting through the recent case against Hill involving potential child abuse and a recording catching Hill threatening his fiancee.