AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos CB De’Vante Bausby said his body was paralyzed for 30 minutes following his helmet-to-helmet collision with Chargers RB Austin Ekeler in Week 5. 

“I was awake the whole time. I was never unconscious. I just couldn’t move,” said Bausby, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. “But I was still talking and everything. The doctor said I’d be fine and I trusted him. After 30 minutes I was able to wiggle my toes, and after a couple hours regain full mobility.”

Professor of orthopedic surgery Dr. Neel Anand indicated to Jhabvala that Bausby sustained a spinal-cord contusion, which caused his spinal cord to go into shock upon impact and quickly started to recover. 

“If he was paralyzed for 30 minutes, clearly that’s a spinal-cord contusion,” said Anand. “The spinal cord was in shock, it basically shut down and it started recovering really fast. It got contused, it took a blow, and the really good news is he started recovering. That’s usually a very, very good prognosis.”

Anand added that Bausby should be cleared to play if he clears all X-Ray and MRI screenings. 

“If he makes a complete and total recovery, and there is nothing on his X-rays and MRI, he most certainly could come back provided nothing else happens,” Anand said.

Chargers

• Per ESPN’s Eric Williams, Chargers HC Anthony Lynn says C Mike Pouncey will have neck surgery and won’t be back this season. Lynn added Pouncey will be okay but he’s not sure if this injury is career-threatening. 
• Chargers TE Hunter Henry returned to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday. (Daniel Popper)

Chiefs

• According to Aaron Wilson, the Chiefs worked out DT Earl Mitchell before signing Terrell McClain. 

Raiders

Many around the league thought former Redskins HC Jay Gruden would be a candidate to join his brother in Oakland once Washington moved on from him. However, when asked about the possibility, Raiders HC Jon Gruden didn’t outright say if he would be adding his brother to the coaching staff. 

“I’m not going to speculate about it,” Jon Gruden said via the Athletic’s Vic Tafur. “I’m obviously very disappointed for my brother. It’s been a long night the last couple of nights. He’s worked hard. I have a lot of respect for my brother, obviously, and am disappointed for him getting fired. But my dad’s been fired, I’ve been fired, Jay’s been fired. Welcome to the club, bro.”

While ideally Gruden would like to have Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict back at some point this season, he said replacement LBs Nicholas Morrow and Tahir Whitehead did well filling in for Burfict during Week 5. 

“You have to give Nick Morrow and Tahir Whitehead a lot of credit,” Gruden said. “They played great. That doesn’t take away from the fact that we miss Vontaze and his leadership, experience and playmaking ability. Nick and Tahir didn’t come off the field. Morrow had an interception and Whitehead did a great job running the show. Those guys deserve credit.”