AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos HC Vance Joseph said he feels for TE Jake Butt, who worked his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in college only to tear another ACL during a walkthrough earlier this week.

“I felt for Jake right away,” Joseph said. “He’s worked so hard for the last two years to get himself back to this point. He was improving every day. He was making plays for us on Sundays. You can see the special ability this player had and the passion. This guy was the same guy every day — happy, fully engaged every day, a very smart football player. It’s a shame that it ended that way on that kind of play, but his teammates also felt for him because he’s worked so hard. But, he’ll come back. He’ll be fine.”

• The Denver Broncos officially list CB Tramaine Brock (thigh) as doubtful for Week 4’s game and have CB Adam Jones (thigh), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), and S Dymonte Thomas (abdomen) all down as being questionable.

Chiefs

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Chiefs S Eric Berry is specifically dealing with a Haglund’s deformity, which his a bone spur that essentially digs into the Achilles tendon.

“My understanding, and I’ve spoken to people familiar with his injury situation. He’s got what’s called a Haglund’s deformity in that Achilles. That’s a bone spur that basically digs into the Achilles,” Garafolo said, via Arrowheadpride.com. “Shaun O’ Hara, our colleague at NFL Network, he had it. I spoke to him this week. He said it is extremely painful. He actually used a more colorful word that I won’t use here. It’s just something that continues to irritate the area. Some guys have been able to play with it—you get a shoe here or there, you can adjust … but that’s what’s going on. It’s going to be a pain management thing. It’s not like this thing will tear the Achilles necessarily. A lot of these cases don’t result in a tear, but that’s why with Berry right now, he has not played, and they’ve been doing OK. That’s going to allow them a little bit more patience with Berry, but it is extremely painful.”

• Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Berry (heel) is doubtful for Week 4. (Matt McMullen)
• Reid said that he expects LB Dee Ford (groin) to play in Monday Night’s game: “He’ll probably go and less he has a setback.” (Adam Teicher)

Raiders

Raiders WR Martavis Bryant said he is remaining “patient” but believes his breakout game is coming.

“God has a plan. When my time comes, it’s going to happen and there’s nothing anybody can do about it,” Bryant said, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports. “I just have to be patient and keep working through it. My only objective is to keep doing what Coach Gruden wants. If I do that, good things will happen.”

Raiders HC Jon Gruden added that Bryant demands coverage and he helps open up Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson.

“He has demanded coverage,” Gruden said. “I think he helps Amari (Cooper) have big days. I think he helps Jordy (Nelson) have big days and I think he made some big plays. Third down receptions the other day. We tried to get him the ball on a double reverse, or a gimmick play, we didn’t it execute it very well but his presence out there is a difference. Everybody knows who he is and what he is capable of doing.”