AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders has started to pick up speed in his recovery from a torn Achilles late last season, both literally and figuratively. 

“Once they told me I hit 19.2 [miles per hour] and it’s only four months in, I was like, ‘All right, I still got it,'” Sanders said via Aric DiLalla of the official team site.

Though Sanders said he feels good running at full speed, there’s no timetable for when he’ll be ready to run routes or participate in team drills. 

“We’ll see,” Sanders said. “You know how the trainers are. We’re not going to put a date on anything. We’re just going to take it one day at a time. Hopefully I’m back out there by then, but if I’m not, I’m not going to rush it. I’m going to take my time and make sure I’m 100 percent by the time I get on the field.” 

Sanders did not say if he would be ready for training camp. 

“When I do run full speed, I feel good running,” Sanders said via Mike Klis. “I wouldn’t say we’re ahead of schedule, I wouldn’t say we’re behind schedule. I just feel like we’re somewhere in between there. We’ll see how it goes and once I start running routes, seeing how I feel.’’

• The Broncos made some changes in their scouting department, adding Frantzy Jourdain and Eugene Armstrong as area scouts and promoting Eddie Simpkins to a full-time role as a scouting department assistant. (Nicki Jhabvala)
• The Broncos also promoted Deon Randall and Rob Paton from assistant to scouts. (Jhabvala)
• All other scouts had their contracts renewed. 

Chargers

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, as far as he can tell the Chargers haven’t gone “anywhere” on an extension for QB Philip Rivers and they haven’t begun “negotiating in earnest.”
• Rapoport adds the Chargers have historically finalized extensions toward the end of training camp and beginning of the season, and expects the same to happen with Rivers. 

Raiders

• Albert Breer writes that veteran free agent OL Richie Incognito “could well” sign with the Raiders after his visit with the team this week. 
• Breer, citing people close to Incognito, adds that the veteran lineman is in a “better frame of mind” than he was a few months ago.