AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

Broncos

• Should the Broncos move LT Garett Boles to a new position, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post believes the team would use OT Elijah Wilkinson at left tackle. 
• O’Halloran expects the Broncos to sign QB Brett Rypien to their practice squad following roster cuts and continue to develop him. 
• As for the Broncos’ struggles at punt returner, O’Halloran does not think the team’s starting return specialist for the 2019 season is currently on their roster. 
• Per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Broncos TE Jake Butt is set to fully participate in practice for the first time since suffering a setback early in training camp in his recovery from his third ACL surgery.
• The Broncos worked out Ball State UDFA Josh Miller. (Nicki Jhabvala)
• Broncos LB Todd Davis is “behind where we thought” he’d be in his recovery from a calf injury, per HC Vic Fangio. (Jhabvala)
• Fangio says it’s “too early to tell” if Davis will miss Week 1, but “it’s a possibility.” (Jhabvala)
• Fangio told reporters first-round TE Noah Fant, who suffered an ankle injury in the second preseason game, will be ready for Week 1. (Pelissero)
• Denver doesn’t plan to bring in another quarterback following second-round rookie Drew Lock‘s injury. (Mike Klis)
• Broncos G Ronald Leary was cleared from his Achilles injury last year but has been sidelined by knee soreness, per Fangio: “Well it’s a concern. But I think Ron is doing a good job for the most part of managing it…We’re trying to get him ready for the regular season and see where it goes.” (Jhabvala)

Chargers

With rising star S Derwin James sidelined at least until November with a foot injury, the onus for replacing him will fall primarily on veteran S Adrian Phillips. Even as a rookie, James flashed a unique skillset for a safety with his ability in coverage and as a blitzer.

Phillips isn’t worried about replacing everything James brings to the table, though, just with being the best player he can be. 

“I’m not stepping into this position to be anything that Derwin was,” Phillips said Tuesday via the Los Angeles Times’ Jeff Miller. “I’ve played a lot of snaps in my career. I played a whole bunch of snaps last year. We got to the playoffs, and we were able to make a lot of plays. So it’s not necessarily thinking of replacing Derwin. It’s, ‘Hey, this is a little bump in the road. We gotta fix it … and keep it moving.’ When you start thinking you’re replacing somebody or you have to live up to what somebody else has done, that’s when all the bad stuff starts to happen.”

Chargers HC Anthony Lynn said he has “no idea” when CB Trevor Williams (knee) will return. 

“Right now I have no idea. You think a guy is going to be back in a week and it takes two weeks. Some guys you think are going to be out three weeks and they’re back in on week. So everybody’s different,” Lynn said via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. 

Lynn said he would allow Chargers’ veteran QB Philip Rivers to play a “series or two” in Saturday’s preseason game if the quarterback asked. 

“If Philip comes to me and says ‘Coach, I need a series or two,’ he’s going to get it,” Lynn said, via Eric Williams. 

Chiefs

Chiefs’ recently re-signed WR De’Anthony Thomas took reps with the first-team offense during Tuesday’s practice, while HC Andy Reid said he appeared to be in “good shape” after finishing the 2018 season on injured reserve due to a broken leg. 

“The leg looks good,’’ Reid said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN. “That was a concern but he’s done well with it. He’s been working out, doing track workouts so he’s in pretty good shape right now. He just jumped right in. He’s ready to go. He knows all the plays.’’