AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

• Broncos HC Vance Joseph was asked if the decision to waive QB Paxton Lynch was difficult and replied: “Paxton’s gone so that story is gone with him. We have a big game on Sunday, we have three quarterbacks in our house that we feel good about. Paxton’s gone, that story should be gone with him. I wish him well.’’ (Jeff Legwold)
• Mike Klis reports that Broncos did try to trade Lynch and says that the Panthers and Cowboys made the most sense because they have systems, but neither team was interested.
• The Denver Broncos announced Monday that rookie Royce Freeman will be their starting running back to open the season.
• Joseph said they’re hoping S Su’a Cravens can return from injured reserve in two months: “Su’a played really well (against the Cardinals) … he tackled well, he played well in space … I was really impressed with Su’a and I was hoping his knee would respond the right way so he could play for us on Sunday, but it did not. So he needs a scope to clean it up, hopefully he’ll be back in two months.” (Jeff Legwold)

Chargers

• Chargers GM Tom Telesco said of re-signing veteran TE Antonio Gates: “I’m grateful that he wants to come back and play with us. But I’m also grateful — and this is probably more important than the first part — he’s coming back for all the right reasons. He’s not coming back to put up more statistics. He’s not coming back to prove anything to anybody, because he doesn’t have to do that. He’s coming back because he loves his teammates, and I think he sees something special in this football team that he wants to be a part of. That’s exciting.” (Orange County Register)

Chiefs

• The Chiefs tried out OT Pace Murphy on Monday. (Howard Balzer)
• Chiefs claimed C Austin Reiter off of waivers from the Browns. (NFLTR)
• Chiefs release C Bryan Witzmann.
• Chiefs placed DB Daniel Sorensen on injured reserve.

Raiders

Raiders QB Derek Carr told reporters on Monday that trading DE Khalil Mack “isn’t what anybody wanted” but they’ve moved on as a team.

“It isn’t what anybody wanted, I think that’s clear,” Carr said, via ESPN.com. “But it is what it is, it’s part of the business. It’s one of those sucky things that happen. The hardest part for me is, obviously, you lose a good football player, but he’s my brother, man. He’s one of my best friends. I think the hardest part is, I don’t get to see my friend every day.”

“It’s one of those situations that sucks, we lost our friend, we lost our brother but we have games to win, we’ve got a job to do,” Carr said added. “And I think that’s the mark of Mr. McKenzie and Coach Gruden bringing in the right kind of people … handle it like men. You don’t have to like it or agree with it, but we’re paid to win games.“