AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

As for the league returning from COVID-19 regulations, Broncos CB Kareem Jackson says it “doesn’t make sense” for NFL games to return unless it is “100 percent safe” for players. 

“I just think for us, it doesn’t make sense to play any games unless it’s completely, 100 percent safe for us to go out there,” Jackson said, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. “If there’s any threat of us being able to [contract] COVID-19 in any way and spread it to our families or anybody we’re around, it just doesn’t make sense. I think I heard them saying something about us playing with no fans and all that. That would be like practice, so in my opinion, that would suck. But just talking with some of the guys, it just doesn’t make sense to go play any games unless it’s 100 percent safe for us to go out there.”

• According to Jhabvala, the Broncos plan to have their rookies attend their virtual orientation this weekend and then have veterans join in on positional video team meetings.
• Regarding Broncos’ second-round WR KJ Hamler‘s drop rate last season, GM John Elway believes the prospect’s issues are correctable: “[He had] concentration drops, which are the easy drops that (happen when) you don’t concentrate looking (the football) in. We felt those are things that are obviously very coachable.” 
• When asked about Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay‘s possible extension, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post points out that long-term deal right now doesn’t make sense because Lindsay is still under contract for 2020 and they are carrying recently signed RB Melvin Gordon‘s $7 million cap number. 
• O’Halloran writes that Broncos LB Josh Watson will compete with Joe Jones and fifth-round Justin Strnad for the No. 4 inside linebacker role. 
• As for Broncos TE Austin Fort, O’Halloran believes he will have a hard time making their active roster if Denver only keeps four players at his position. 
• Regarding the Broncos’ rookies, O’Halloran expects Hamler to be a “vertical complement” to WR Courtland Sutton, third-round CB Michael Ojemudia to challenge for a starting role, third-round DL McTelvin Agim to be a rotational lineman, and fourth-round TE Albert Okwuegbunam to move around to exploit bad matchups. 

Chargers

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists offensive tackle as the biggest hole left on the Chargers’ roster, as while Bryan Bulaga will start on one side, the other will be manned by either Sam Tevi or Trent Scott.

Chiefs

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists edge rusher as the biggest hole left on the Chiefs’ roster, as the best option across from DE Frank Clark for Kansas City is Alex Okafor.

Raiders

• ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports the Raiders are not interested in free-agent DE Jadeveon Clowney. 
• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists pass rush as the biggest hole left on the Raiders’ roster, as the biggest addition they made this offseason was DE Carl Nassib and they appear to be relying on second-year jumps from DE Maxx Crosby, DT Maurice Hurst and DE Clelin Ferrell.