While we are a Chargers blog, seeing as how the Chargers play six games against divisional foes each season, it's quite important to pay attention to the other three teams within the division. Let's take check-in with each of the teams outside San Diego within the AFC West Division.
Denver Broncos
I'll be honest: just because I live in Denver doesn't mean I pay much attention to the local Denver sports scene. Off the top of my head I can tell you that Peyton Manning is the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, and ummm, Eric Decker is his favorite receiver so far this pre-season; I think. OH! I also remembered something else: Linebacker D.J. Williams was convicted last week of DUI. Well, technically not DUI, but DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired) which happens to just be a misdemeanor. But still, it's likely that he'll be seeing some punishment coming down from the league, and potentially getting cut from the Broncos if the punishment is a long-term suspension.
Aside from that hard-hitting news, rumors are heating up this week that the Broncos would be interested in trading for Maurice Jones-Drew. MJD and Jacksonville are in the middle of a snit right now and sharks are circling the waters. Supposedly, the Broncos are the hungriest of those sharks to land MJD; we shall see what happens there.
The Broncos host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
More Broncos News:
Hit the jump to see what's going on with the other two teams.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City has been pretty quiet this offseason. No major splashes in Free Agency, and they had a solid if not unspectacular draft. They seem to be flying under the radar a bit, but that doesn't mean anyone should discount them. This year, they get back several key players that lost significant playing time last year due to injury.
Christopher Smith, who used to write all the articles on Chargers.com up until a few months ago, took to Twitter yesterday to outline his thoughts on how the AFC West stacked up. You can read for yourself, but to sum it up, he thinks Kansas City will win the division. While the Chargers have improved on defense significantly, too many holes exist on Offense this year. The inverse is said about Denver. And Oakland, well ... yeah ... we'll get to them.
Where Chargers players seem to snapping bones left and right, the Chiefs are pulling their groins (giggity). DB Travis Daniels, LB Gary Sheffield, DB De'Quan Menzie and WR Junior Hemingway all have suffered groin injuries so far this preseason. They also have trouble keeping their Offensive Linemen employeed, as three linemen have retired already. Aside from that, a few other players are sitting out of practice for various injury reasons, including star CB Brandon Flowers.
Kansas City hosts Seattle on Friday night.
More Chiefs News:
- No Decision On Chiefs Backup QB Yet
- Dwayne Bowe Will Play In Seahawks-Chiefs Preseason Game
- GIF'D UP: Dontari Poe vs Rams
Oakland Raiders
What a mess. Carson Palmer looks shaky in the pocket, they have a porous line on both sides of the ball, and they don't seem to even want the ball much of the time. In their most recent game against the Cardinals, the fumbled the ball twice and threw the ball to the wrong team. They looked like the same old Raiders in that every time they started to get any momentum, they would be hampered by penalties and their own ineptitude.
Darren McFadden looked as dangerous as ever though, so there's one bright spot on the offense. Everything else though needs a bit of work.
Matt Leinart was injured in the game, requiring stitches to close up a gash in his index finger on his non-throwing hand. He has not taken any snaps in practice this week and his playing status remains a game-time decision for Saturday's game against the Lions.
Oakland's injury woes don't stop at backup QB either. Several key players are missing practice time due to injury: LB Aaron Curry (knees) didn't practice, nor did WR Jacoby Ford (left foot) who came on the field wearing a protective boot. Denarius Moore (hamstring), center Stefen Wisniewski (calf), defensive tackle Richard Seymour (knee) or offensive linemen Ed Wang (shoulder) or Zach Hurd (head) were not seen at practice today either. Ouch.
More Raiders News: