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The Chargers announced they have signed receiver/returner Micheal Spurlock. He had previous success under current San Diego special-teams coach Rich Bisaccia in Tampa Bay. With the earlier signings of Eddie Royal and Roscoe Parrish, the Chargers are loaded with receivers who can return. Of the three, only Royal is certain to make the team, but I’d expect Parrish, signed Tuesday, and Spurlock to compete for a spot.

It is not a slam-dunk that defensive end Dave Tollefson will sign with the Raiders. However, as of Wednesday evening, Oakland is still considered the favorite to land him. He is set to visit with the Titans on Thursday; other teams are interested. The Raiders might be willing to give Tollefson the most money. He will be a key backup if he signs in Oakland.

Defensive end Luis Castillo -- who re-signed with the Chargers on Wednesday after being cut in a salary-cap move -- is prepared to regain his starting job. He suffered a leg injury in Week 1 last season and was out for the year. The Chargers are high on young ends Corey Liuget and Vaughn Martin. At the very least, Castillo will be part of San Diego's rotation.

Luis Castillo is headed back home.

Weeks after he was released, the defensive end has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Chargers.

The Chargers cut Castillo, 28, prior to free agency in a salary-cap move. He suffered a broken leg in Week 1 last season and he did not return. The Chargers expressed interest in re-signing Castillo at a lesser rate when he was cut. A former first-round pick by the Chargers, Castillo had visited Kansas City and New England.

However, he heads back to San Diego where he should be part of the team’s rotation. I think the Chargers would like to see youngsters Corey Liuget and Vaughn Martin merge as the primary defensive ends in the 3-4 defense, but Castillo is experienced, well versed in the team's defense and, if healthy, he'll be a solid addition to the unit.

UDPATE: U-T San Diego is reporting the Chargers are talking about a contract with former Oakland tackle Mario Henderson. He would be a backup in San Diego. He was cut last summer by the Raiders because he was out of shape. He did not play in the NFL last season.

Cornerback Chris Carr is reportedly signing with the Vikings. He has visited with the Chiefs.

NFL.com reports Jacksonville will be strong players for Tim Tebow in the trade market. Jacksonville is his hometown and new Jacksonville owner Shahid Khan has said he would have drafted Tebow in the 2010 draft.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported Jacksonville, Green Bay, Miami and the Jets all have interest in Tebow. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said a deal could be done Wednesday or Thursday.

As expected, Colts’ tight end Jaocb Tamme and center Jeff Saturday are set to visit the Broncos. Both played with new Denver quarterback Peyton Manning in Indianapolis.

UT San Diego reports Kansas City running back Jackie Battle has left his visit with the Chargers without a contract. The Chargers are considering four players to replace Mike Tolbert as the backup running back. Meanwhile, the paper is reporting defensive lineman Luis Castillo has been offered a contract to return. He has also visited the Chiefs and New England.

The Denver Post reports the Broncos are working to get a deal done with defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley. He is a priority in Denver and I think re-signing him is a must. New Orleans is in on Bunkley as well.

The market for Oakland running back Michael Bush -- the best available free agent in the AFC West in my mind -- continues to plod along.

As expected, Peyton Manning will likely not be coming to the Denver Broncos empty handed.

NFL Network reports center Jeff Saturday is coming to Denver for a visit and veteran receiver Brandon Stokley may sign. They both played with Manning in Indianapolis. The other former Colts who could sign in Denver are running back Joseph Addai and tight ends Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme.

If Saturday signs, that would mean Denver would either trade J.D. Walton or make him a backup. Walton is a good, young player, but Manning and Saturday have had a long relationship and have great chemistry. Stokley is a former Denver receiver who would probably be a No. 4 receiver with the Broncos. Manning stayed at Stokley’s house when he visited Denver earlier this month.

In other AFC West news:

The contract between Denver tight end Daniel Fells and New England is done. He signed a three-year deal.

The Boston Herald reported that that former San Diego defensive lineman Luis Castillo visited with the New England Patriots. He has already visited Kansas City,

Tennessee is visiting with pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley. He was cut by the Raiders on Friday.

Former Oakland guard Robert Gallery will not be coming back to the team. He reportedly has signed with New England. Oakland cut Gallery last summer and he was with the Seahawks last season.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Chiefs have visited with defensive lineman Luis Castillo. He was just cut by the Chargers.

The Chiefs will likely add to the defensive line in free agency and I wouldn’t be shocked if they added Castillo for depth. He has been a solid starter, but has been injury prone. The Chargers would like to re-sign Castillo at a reduced price.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Colts would be open to trading pass-rusher Dwight Freeney. The only possible fit in the AFC West is San Diego. The Chargers badly wants a pass-rusher and Freeney could be intriguing. They were interested in his teammate, Robert Mathis, before he re-signed with the Colts this week. If Freeney is fairly reasonably priced, I could see the Chargers showing interest.

In other AFC West news:

As expected, the Raiders announced quarterback Carson Palmer restructured his contract to help the team with its salary-cap situation.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Raiders aren’t expected to bring back free agents Jarvis Moss and Samson Satele. Moss is a bottom-of-the-roster type and the fact that Satele is not in the team’s plans could mean Stefen Wisniewski will play center. He was supposed to play there last year, but played guard instead and excelled there.

The Broncos are looking for a safety in free agency, but the pickings are slim.

The Chiefs have added Steven Smith as assistant offensive line coach. He was with Tennessee State last season.

Matt Williamson looks at the top 50 free agents available. KC Joyner looks at the best values in free agency and there is an AFC West flavor to it. Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. thinks San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson is the biggest free-agent risk available. Still, I think plenty of teams will line up to take that risk.

Yahoo Sports is reporting Tennessee free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan is recruiting Jackson to go to the same team he does. The report speculates that team may be Tampa Bay. St. Louis could also be a possibility.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Denver Broncos

Key free agents: K Matt Prater (franchised), DT Brodrick Bunkley, S Brian Dawkins, TE Daniel Fells, FB Spencer Larsen, WR Eddie Royal, QB Brady Quinn, DT Marcus Thomas, LB Wesley Woodyard, P Britton Colquitt (restricted).

Where they stand: The Broncos will have plenty of salary-cap room. For a team that went from 4-12 with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to winning the AFC West and a playoff game in John Fox’s first season as coach, the Broncos are in position to improve through free agency. With Prater franchised, the team’s only priority unrestricted free agent is Bunkley.

What to expect: Don’t expect a huge spending spree. The Broncos are cash conscious and I think the franchise is still recovering from some undisciplined spending during the Mike Shanahan era that ended in 2008. We will see the Broncos try to add several pieces at lower prices. Denver could address needs at safety, running back, receiver, tight end, linebacker and quarterback. Keep an eye on players such as Washington safety LaRon Landry, Seattle tight end John Carlson, quarterbacks Chad Henne (Miami), Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh) or Josh Johnson (Tampa), running backs Michael Bush (Oakland) and Mike Tolbert (San Diego), and defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene Cincinnati.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key free agents: WR Dwayne Bowe (franchised), CB Brandon Carr, QB Kyle Orton, RB Jackie Battle, LB Jovan Belcher, S Jon McGraw, C Casey Wiegmann, RB Thomas Jones, DE Wallace Gilberry, DT Kelly Gregg

Where they stand: The Chiefs are in great shape on cap space even after signing cornerback Stanford Routt and franchising Bowe. They have already done a nice job in free agency with these two moves and have a good, young roster. Kansas City can become a serious playoff contender with the right moves. It is likely Carr will leave in free agency, but the Chiefs should be able to re-sign most of their other free agents if they wish.

What to expect: I’m not sure we will see the Chiefs break the bank for any of the super-hot free agents, but I expect them to do some significant shopping. I think we could see Kansas City look for help at nose tackle, linebacker, safety, tackle, running back and quarterback. Of course, the intrigue could start if the team gets in on the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. But they could also look at several other quarterbacks, including Orton, Henne, Jason Campbell (Oakland) or even Quinn. They could also be in the mix for Miami nose tackle Paul Soliai, Saints guard Carl Nicks and running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis (New England), Bush and Tolbert.

Oakland Raiders

Key free agents: S Tyvon Branch (franchised), RB Michael Bush, QB Jason Campbell, LB Quentin Groves, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DE Trevor Scott, FB Marcel Reece (restricted).

Where they stand: The Raiders are one of the few teams that must get under the salary cap. Oakland coach Dennis Allen recently acknowledged the team has work to do. The Raiders have some contracts that can be easily restructured, but they also may have to cut some players, particularly on defense. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and defensive tackle John Henderson are among the top candidates.

What to expect: The Raiders likely face some limitations once they get under the cap, but they can add two or three starting-quality players under the right circumstances. Their primary needs are on defense, starting at cornerback and linebacker. The offensive line could be upgraded as well. I think they can be in on the second wave of cornerbacks. A player to watch is New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter, who previously played for Allen. There are some solid second-tier cornerbacks Oakland could be interested in other than Porter. There will be some good players available on both sides of the ball after the initial wave of free agency for short-term deals. Expect the Raiders to do some bargain picking during that time. I think Oakland will be interested in signing several of its free agents, but I expect Bush and Campbell will leave.

San Diego Chargers

Key free agents: WR Vincent Jackson, C Nick Hardwick, RB Tolbert, DT Antonio Garay, OT Jared Gaither, FB Jacob Hester.

Where they stand: The Chargers will be in decent shape and they are getting even better after cutting Luis Castillo, the retirement of guard Kris Dielman and the expected release of tackle Marcus McNeill. But San Diego still has a lot of work to do. They have the most priority free agents of any team in the division. Signing Jackson, Hardwick, Gaither, Tolbert and Garay will be a challenge.

What to expect: The Chargers will likely stick to their usual plan and concentrate first on their own free agents. But they also have other needs and they will likely spend more in free agency than they have done before under general manager A.J. Smith. I get the sense from some agents that the Chargers may spend wildy in an attempt to win back the fan base’s trust after the unpopular contract extensions for Smith and coach Norv Turner. The pair were brought back even after missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. I also get the sense from inside the organization, however, that the Chargers will not act out of desperation. Look for the team to consider pass-rushers, nose tackles, safeties and offensive linemen if Hardwick and Gaither aren’t brought back. A receiver will also become a major need if Jackson goes. The Colts' Reggie Wayne could be an option in that case. A running back such as Cadillac Williams (St. Louis) reportedly will be in the mix if Tolbert walks. Soliai could interest the team as well. Chicago special teams ace Corey Graham may also be a target. If the Chargers want to make a huge splash, they could try to get in on Houston pass-rusher Mario Williams, who is widely considered the best player on the market.

On the day the San Diego Chargers did not franchise receiver Vincent Jackson, they made another move by releasing defensive lineman Luis Castillo.

A first-round pick in 2005, Castillo broke his leg in the season opener last year and did not play the rest of the season. He made 79 starts for the team and he was a solid member of the defense for several years.

In a team release, general manager A.J. Smith indicated Castillo could perhaps be re-signed. But expect the Chargers and Castillo to both first look to move on.

The Chargers are probably not done cutting former high-profile players. Left tackle Marcus McNeill is expected to be cut this week. He is due a big roster bonus and like with Castillo, cutting him would provide some cap relief. McNeill ended last season on the injured reserve with a neck injury. He has not been cleared medically. The want to re-sign Jared Gaither, who was excellent as an injury replacement for McNeill.

In other AFC West news:

In an Insider piece,
Adam Schefter looks at potential landing spots for receiver Vincent Jackson in free agency.

The Colts signed pass-rusher Robert Mathis to a long-term deal. That is not good news for the Chargers. He was going to be a target for San Diego.

In another Insider piece, Kevin Weidl of Scouts Inc. thinks Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin could be a nice fit for Denver.

The Ravens cut cornerback Dominique Foxworth. He could be a fairly inexpensive option for Oakland if he can prove he can stay healthy.

Luis Castillo’s days are numbered in San Diego. The Chargers have long decided to move on from him. Expect the Chargers to add to the defensive line in free agency and in the draft. If Castillo doesn’t get another deal and the Chargers don’t upgrade, they could try to bring him back down the road.

The Denver Post links Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler and Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden,

The Raiders' offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, has an advantage when it comes to looking at quarterback talent at the combine.

In an Insider piece, Adam Schefter’s mailbag looks at the Chiefs’ chances of landing RG3 and Denver’s plans at quarterback.

Here’s another indication Michael Bush will not be in Oakland any longer.

INDIANAPOLIS -- I had a chance to meet with San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith on Thursday.

In the big picture, Smith said his team must address its defense as it attempts another playoff run. However, Smith’s most pressing issue is the offensive line. Smith said the line “is the area that is causing [him] to lose sleep.”

However, Smith may rest easy soon enough. There may be more clarity on the group in the near future. Center Nick Hardwick is a free agent and has said he wants to return. Smith wants him back, but a deal has to be completed.

Guard Kris Dielman is coming off a concussion that ended his 2011 season prematurely. He has even considered retiring. But he is expected to play, even though a final decision hasn’t been made.

The team is expected to release left tackle Marcus McNeill, who is dealing with a possible career-ending neck injury. He is due a bonus early next month. Jared Gaither took over for McNeill last season and did well. The team hopes to re-sign him in free agency but, like Hardwick, there are no guarantees.

“We don’t know how it will play out on the line,” Smith said. “A lot of things can happen. There are things we want to happen, but that doesn’t mean they will happen. But we will know soon enough.”

What Smith wants to see is improvement on defense. Smith said he is excited about new defensive coordinator John Pagano, who was a longtime assistant coach in San Diego. The Chargers' defense sagged in its one year under former coordinator Greg Manusky, who was fired in January.

Smith said the key to improving the defense is becoming a better unit on third down. The team was last in the NFL in getting off the field on third down in 2011. “That is the first thing we have to figure out,” Smith said.

Smith said he is excited about several players, including young defensive linemen Corey Liuget, Vaughn Martin and Cam Thomas. The Chargers, who may cut Luis Castillo, will add to the line, and they are expecting big things from the unit under Pagano’s guidance.

Smith wouldn’t specifically address getting pass-rushers in free agency, but he did say the team needs more of them. If the Chargers do look at pass-rushers on the open market, the Colts’ Robert Mathis and the Lions’ Cliff Avril (if he isn’t given the franchise tag) could be intriguing options.

Smith said he wants to keep receiver Vincent Jackson but wouldn’t say whether he thinks Jackson will stay. I think the team’s best scenario is to let Jackson explore his options in free agency and then try to sign him. That was the tact the team used with safety Eric Weddle last year. Unless other events unfold unexpectedly, don’t expect the Chargers to give Jackson the franchise tag.

Smith said he was pleased to see quarterback Philip Rivers finish the season strong and that he's not concerned about Rivers experiencing early-season struggles again like he did last year.

“He was pressing” Smith said. “He knows it. That happens, but Philip is fine.”

Though the San Diego Chargers are typically conservative in free agency, expect them to be more aggressive this year as the team knows it has to win now or the A.J. Smith-Norv Turner era is very likely entering its final act.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Chargers are expected to have a ton of room to maneuver under the salary cap, and will likely get more by cutting tackle Marcus McNeill next month. For his salary to be guaranteed for 2012, McNeill must be cleared to play after a neck injury prematurely ended his 2011 season — and he is unlikely to get that medical clearance from team doctors, the paper reports. The Chargers could opt to stay in-house and sign Jared Gaither, whom the Chargers signed after he was cut by Kansas City and played well in McNeill’s absence.

The paper also reports that defensive end Luis Castillo and linebacker Takeo Spikes could be cut or asked to take pay cuts to remain with the team. Guard Kris Dielman, meanwhile, might be leaning toward playing this season. He was considering retirement because of a concussion that ended his 2011 season.

The Chargers are targeting several in-house free agents, including receiver Vincent Jackson, center Nick Hardwick (if he decides to play) and running back Mike Tolbert. San Diego could turn to the open market for a strong safety, a pass-rusher and an offensive lineman, among other positions.

Meanwhile, here is a look at the Raiders’ contact situation; you can see some clear candidates for contract restructuring as the team works to get under the salary cap. The league’s exact salary-cap figures have not been determined.

Kansas City coach Todd Haley told reporters Wednesday that it is unlikely quarterback Kyle Orton would practice later in the day. Orton suffered a finger injury in his only pass as a Chief.

The fact that Orton is not expected to practice Wednesday doesn’t automatically take him out of the mix to play Sunday at the New York Jets. But it is an indication Tyler Palko could be on his way to a fourth straight start. Palko improved some last week in a win at Chicago.

If Orton doesn’t play this week, you have to wonder how much he will play the rest of the season. Orton is a free agent at the end of the season. Kansas City claimed the remaining $2.5 million off his contract off waivers from Denver Nov. 23, but we've barely seen him.

In other AFC West nuggets:

ESPN Stats & Information has put together an impressive interactive look at the many offensive sets the Broncos have used with Tim Tebow at quarterback. Check it out. It’s well done. Meanwhile, Tebow leads off our QB Watch. ESPN.com's Rick Reilly credits John Fox for buying into Tebow and for leading the Broncos’ resurgence.

Denver linebacker Von Miler remains atop ESPN.com’s Rookie Watch,

The season of Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson impressed one of the best players at his position in the NFL.

The Chargers placed defensive end Luis Castillo on the injured reserve. He suffered a broken leg early in the season and he not improved. The team signed defensive end Damik Scafe to the practice squad and linebacker Nate Triplett to the 53-man roster.

New Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton will join the team Friday. He was claimed off waivers from Denver on Wednesday. As expected, Tyler Palko will start Sunday against Pittsburgh. Orton is expected to start Dec. 4 at Chicago.

This is what Broncos coach John Fox told reporters in Denver about Orton staying in the division: “Like I mentioned yesterday, anytime you make that move, that’s a risk. We’re happy for Kyle. I wish him all the luck in the world except for that last game of the season.”

The Chiefs visit Denver on Jan. 1.

The Raiders sold out their sixth straight game, thus Sunday’s game against Chicago will be shown on local TV. The Chargers have sold enough tickets to avoid a local TV blackout for Sunday’s game against Denver.

The San Diego Union Tribune reported Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo was working on his own Thursday for the first time since he broke his leg early in the season. The report estimates that he could play in a few weeks.

The streaking Broncos are a loose bunch these days.

SAN DIEGO –- The only new injury news for San Diego on Thursday is that safety Steve Gregory was hurt this week in practice and he is inactive. He will be replaced by Paul Oliver against Oakland.

Below are the Chargers’ inactives:

DL Luis Castillo

OG Kris Dielman

WR Malcom Floyd

LB Darryl Gamble

S Steve Gregory

LB Shaun Phillips

WR Bryan Walters

You have to think Bob Sanders' NFL career is over.

After playing just nine games total in the past three years for the Indianapolis Colts, Sanders' season with the San Diego Chargers ended after two games. Sanders, who missed Sunday’s game against Kansas City, was put on the injured reserve Wednesday because of a knee injury. That means four straight seasons have ended on the injured reserve for the hard-hitting, playmaking safety. He has played just 11 games since the 2007 season when he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

San Diego general manger A.J. Smith made it clear in a statement that the Sanders’ experiment is over in San Diego.

“All we wished for Bob was good health and hoped to turn him loose to do his thing, which was being one great, physical, highly-competitive player,” Smith said. “It didn’t work out for him or us, and we wish him the very best. He was with us a very short time, but made a positive impact with our team in many ways, and I’ll always appreciate that.”

The Chargers knew they were taking a chance on Sanders and the deal was very team friendly. But they liked Sanders and they wanted him to be a big part of the defense. They expected him and fellow safety Eric Weddle to create a special tandem.

When I spoke to Smith about Sanders, Smith said all Sanders needed was “health.” He didn’t get it. I met Sanders during the summer and he is easy to root for. He said he was due for some good health and he was thrilled to get the chance in San Diego. When healthy this summer, Sanders was fast and he looked good.

But, in the end, his body betrayed him again.

The Chargers, who are getting used to injuries, will use Steve Gregory with Weddle along with some other young players. Gregory is serviceable, but a healthy Sanders could have been special.

Meanwhile, the Chargers brought in another veteran defender. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris replaces Sanders on the roster.

Harris was cut both by Chicago and Indianapolis this year. The Chargers want a veteran to fill the gap in the rotation for the next few weeks. Luis Castillo will be out for several weeks with a broken leg and Jacques Cesaire will be out for several weeks with a knee injury. Rookie defensive wend Corey Liuget missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. He was practicing some Wednesday. Still, it is not known if he can play against the Dolphins. The Chargers will take anything Harris can give him at this point.

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers will have to play the rest of the game without standout cornerback Quentin Jammer. He has a hamstring injury. The team announced he will not return.

That has to be worrisome for San Diego, which is dealing with a lot of injuries. When it is determined so soon after the injury that a player won’t return, it is an indication that the injury could be serious. Dante Hughes and Marcus Gilchrist will play more for the Chargers.

Meanwhile, the Chargers responded to the Chiefs’ touchdown with a nifty, seven-play, 80-yard drive culminated by a short touchdown run by Ryan Mathews. San Diego leads 17-7 midway through the third quarter.

UPDATE: San Diego defensive end Jacques Cesaire went to the locker room with a knee injury. He is questionable to return. He is playing for Luis Castillo, who is out for several weeks with a broken leg.

UPDATE: The post-game expectation is that Jammer should be able to play next week.