AFC West Notes: Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Chargers

Chargers QB Philip Rivers reiterated during an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio that he’s fine playing out the final year of his contract if need be. 

“I feel fine playing this thing out,” Rivers said, via Pro Football Talk. “The expectation and hope is to be here again next year, but it doesn’t need to be done right now. If it were to some time soon, great. If not, let’s play it out and worry about it in the winter.”

Rivers was asked about the possibility of a new contract reducing his own cap number and open some more cap space for holdout RB Melvin Gordon.

“If it does, awesome,” Rivers said. “You want our team to have the best chance to win. Hopefully we see Melvin soon. I think Melvin adds a great deal to our team.”

• According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Chargers DE Joey Bosa received a $3,258,228 roster bonus on Sunday. 

Chiefs

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt mentioned that he had a “very frank” conversation with WR Tyreek Hill upon rejoining the team for training camp. 

“It was a very frank conversation talking to him about his responsibility as he comes back to be a Kansas City Chief,” Hunt said, via ESPN.com.

• Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill said he was unaware the audio of a taped conversation between him and his then-fiancee existed until it was released publicly, per Yahoo!’s Terez Paylor.
• Hill said he couldn’t go into more detail on the situation, but said he wanted to own up to the “bad language” he was heard using on the tape. (Mike Garafolo)
• Hill thanked the Chiefs organization and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and vowed to keep growing as a person. (Garafolo)
• Hill didn’t go into detail on his conversation with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, but did say “I have to work on my life skills.” (Andrew Siciliano)

Raiders

Raiders G Richie Incognito says he’s seeking “redemption” in his return to the NFL. 

“It’s about redemption,” Incognito said, via Scott Bair of NBC Bay Area. “It’s about Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden and the entire Raiders organization giving me an opportunity, and I want to make it right. I want to make it positive for everybody. I want to contribute and be a team leader and I want to re-write the ending.”

Incognito is grateful for the opportunity to play for the Raiders and has been seeking help for his personal issues.

“That path is being around the guys, being around football,” Incognito said. “It’s about being in a good state mentally, physically and emotionally and working toward a goal. It’s important to show up and be accountable every single day. I have my team around me.

“I have a lot of people who support me, inside and outside the organization. I have to stay close to them, but the biggest thing is being man enough to ask for help when I need it. For so many years I’ve tried to grit my teeth and work hard and grind through this. We’ve seen that I’ve had my setbacks and some dark days, but I’m focusing on positive days and building some momentum and rolling right into the season.”

• Raiders HC Jon Gruden says he would like to see QB Derek Carr use his legs more in 2019 to extend plays: “Derek is a lot more athletic than people think,” Gruden said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “Hopefully we can get some more scramble, second-reaction offense.”
• Per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Raiders OC Greg Olson said they waived RB Chris Warren for showing up out of shape.
• Olson added the team planned for WR Tyrell Williams to be their No. 1 wide receiver when they signed him as a free agent before trading for Antonio Brown: “To get them both was certainly a bonus.” (Gehlken)