Another week of the 2020 NFL offseason has passed. It’s time to check out what has been happening with the Kansas City Chiefs’ division rivals in the AFC West. Below you’ll find some of the top stories of the past week for the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.
Jon Gruden claims no raiders plan to opt out for 2020 season
“As of Thursday, no Raiders have decided to opt-out and it doesn’t appear that any will, according to head coach Jon Gruden. In a Zoom conference with reporters, Gruden confirmed that there were no positive COVID-19 tests and that no players plan on opting out for the 2020 season.”
With more players opting out for the 2020 season, the Raiders have yet to have a player option out and likely will not according to Gruden. There is still time for Las Vegas’s players to change their minds, but if Gruden’s words hold true, they will be one of the few teams with a full roster going into camp.
Henry Ruggs ‘feeling 100%’ after fearing ‘the worst’ about leg injury
“Barely a month after being selected at 12 overall in the draft by the Raiders, Henry Ruggs III was laid up with an injury. He suffered a puncture wound in his thigh while helping a friend move, sending a shockwave through Raider Nation about the seriousness of the injury. No one felt that shockwave more than Ruggs himself.
“‘When it happened, of course you think of the worst,’ Ruggs said over Zoom call Thursday, ‘but when I saw the doctors and things like that, they gave me a breakdown and told me I’d be back to 100% in no time and I actually being hard-headed, tried to do more than the doctors said I could do or what I should do.'”
A positive for Las Vegas this offseason as they will have their 12th overall pick for the start of training camp. Ruggs is expected to play a big part in the Raiders offense, so it would have been difficult to get him up to speed with the offense if he had to miss additional time.
Chargers sign Joey Bosa to five-year, $135m contract
“Bosa and the Bolts reached an agreement worth $135 million extension. Included within the extension is $102 million in guaranteed money with $78 million guaranteed at signing.”
In four seasons Joey Bosa has recorded 40 sacks for the Chargers, showing he is one of the top pass rushers in the NFL when healthy. So far, Bosa hasn’t been able to sack Patrick Mahomes, but the Chiefs will need to account for him when they play Los Angeles for the next five seasons.
Keenan Allen believes he is better than Tyreek Hill
“On Sunday night, No. 71-100 were unveiled, and the Chargers had their first representative, which was wide receiver Keenan Allen – checking in at No. 77 overall.
“When it came out, Allen was not happy with it, at all. He tweeted that he was ‘tired’ of keeping quiet when it came to the rankings. He said he was better than Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Buccaneers’ Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.”
Last season Keenan Allen had nearly 1,200 yards receiving and six touchdowns while Tyreek had only 860 yards and seven touchdowns. Hill played in four fewer games than Allen in the regular season due to injury. However, Hill was still ranked higher in the NFL’s top 100 players. It will be interesting to see what happens when the two AFC West receivers face off in Week 2 now that Allen directly called out Hill.
John Elway responds to Patrick Mahomes’ new contract
“’I’m happy with the fact that he got that contract. As an opponent and AFC West opponent, I wish he would have gotten more. I think they underpaid him,'” Elway joked.
Elway may have been joking about the Chiefs underpaying him, but there is no denying that he believes Mahomes was deserving of his contract and is one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Broncos CB A.J. Bouye excited to play Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
“Bouye also said he is excited to face Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice a year.
“‘To be the best you have to try to beat the best,’ the 28-year-old cornerback said. ‘We know what he brings to the table . . . . It’s going to be a strong division and I’m definitely looking forward to it because it’s only going to make me better.'”
Mahomes is quickly becoming a quarterback that defensive players want to prove they can stop. That includes Broncos’ new corner A.J. Bouye who said on a radio show that he was excited to play Mahomes twice this season. Bouye will get his chance to play Mahomes Week 7 and 13 when Kansas City and Denver meet. It’s worth noting that Bouye played Mahomes in 2018 and 2019 with the Jaguars, losing both games.
