AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Broncos QB Brett Rypien will make $20,000 per week on the practice squad. The minimum is $8,000.
• Broncos waived LB Joe Dineen from injured reserve with a settlement. (NFLTR)

Chargers

Barring an unexpected change, 2019 will be the first year in Chargers QB Philip Rivers‘ professional career that he takes the field without TE Antonio Gates. The 39-year-old veteran remains unsigned but not forgotten by the Chargers locker room. 

“That’s probably more weird for me, personally, in that sense just because [we’ve been teammates] for so long,” Rivers said via Gilbert Manzano of the Orange County Register. “His locker was right there for so long. I’ve checked in with him a few times, too. I think he’s doing well. I’m sure it’s weird for him as well after so many years. His body clock is probably telling him, ‘I need to go run a corner-route,’ or something right now. That is different and I certainly miss him, but nothing to complain about there with the 15 years that we had together.”

When Chargers C Mike Pouncey told his agent he wanted to sign an extension with the team, his agent told him he could potentially get more money by playing out the season and negotiating against what he’d get on the open market. Pouncey responded “I’ve got a s— ton of money [already]” and it was more important to be on a winning team. 

“At this point of my career, this team gives me the best chance to win,” Pouncey said via ESPN’s Eric Williams. “I’ve built a relationship with a lot of guys on this team. For me to want to leave here in Year 10 and go somewhere else, it didn’t make any sense to me, no matter what the number was in salary. I felt like whenever we got done with training camp and the offer was there, we jumped on it.”

• Per ESPN’s Eric Williams, Chargers HC Anthony Lynn said running backs Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson would split the load of replacing Melvin Gordon: “I’ve always used those guys as a tandem. That’s not going to change. We’re going to put guys in good positions to do what they do best.”

Raiders

Raiders’ fifth-round WR Hunter Renfrow said he was “a lot more nervous” for his first college game compared to the NFL. 

“I was a lot more nervous (before my first game) at Clemson,” Renfrow said, via Josh Schrock of NBC Sports. “I didn’t know if I was good enough. Here we’ve had a good month-and-a-half of practice. Like I was saying, to go against Lamarcus Joyner and he’s one of the NFL’s. Just challenging myself  to beat him in practice, and if I do that, hopefully, I won’t be overwhelmed come Monday night.” 

Regarding his relationship with Raiders WR Antonio Brown, Renfrow said he is fun to be around and Brown “brings out the best” of his teammates. 

“Just being around him, he’s so fun,” Renfrow said. “He brings out the best in everybody. Just the way he practices and the way he runs his routes. He sells everything vertical. As a receiver, if you can get the DB to think you’re running vertical, it opens up everything and so it’s fun to watch him and he’s a special player, and I’m excited to watch him Monday night as well.”