AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

• Broncos TE Jake Butt expects to be “full-go” for training camp after recovering from ACL and meniscus surgery. (Nicki Jhabvala)
• Jhabvala added that Butt should be initially “eased” back into practice.
• Butt said he feels “really, really close” to returning and is focused on getting back into shape: “I feel really, really close. At this point it’s just about getting back into football shape and to where I feel good every day.” (Nicki Jhabvala)

Chargers

New Chargers LB Thomas Davis admitted that part of his decision to retire for the 2019 season was because he didn’t want to go out after a year in which he was suspended for a portion of the year.

“No doubt. That definitely factored into it,” Davis said, via the Athletic. “The way the season went in Carolina, I definitely don’t think I would have walked away from the game that way. I just had that feeling of still wanting to play and still being able to play. That was the biggest thing. My body said that I could still play.

“In my mind, going into last season, that was the thought process,” Davis said of retirement, “that I would go in and have a good season and play well. But then, after being out for that time, you start to realize how much you really love the game, and I thought if I could still go out and compete at a high level, then there was no thought in my mind at that point that I was going to shut it down.”

While it’s possible he doesn’t finish out the two-year contract with the Chargers this offseason, Davis did at least leave the door open to continuing his career beyond the 2019 season. 

“I’m coming in with the mindset of being the best I can this year,” Davis said, “and then seeing what happens after the season. If we win the Super Bowl and they want me back, then we’ll see how it goes.”

Raiders

Raiders’ first-round S Johnathan Abram is being mentored by DB Lamarcus Joyner this offseason.

“Lamarcus can pretty much do it all,” Abram said, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports. “He does a great job mentoring me, making sure I keep my feet where I am. I heard him say that once in the press conference over here and that’s the one thing I have been focusing on – just being where I’m at every single day and not looking so far ahead.”

Raiders S Karl Joseph said he’s been “really impressed” with Abram’s ability to learn their defense. 

“What I’m really impressed by is just how he has been able to get this defense down,” Joseph said. “For a young guy to come in and be able to understand all the stuff and rules in this defense, that’s pretty impressive. He’s been doing a great job.”