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The San Diego Chargers are still interested in signing pass-rusher Dwight Freeney even though his visit has ended.

It could come down to finances. Freeney, who would be the Chargers’ best rusher, has been looking for a good contract since leaving the Colts. Freeney is considered the best pass-rusher on the market.

I doubt he’d bring down his price, knowing he’d have a big role in San Diego. The Chargers have limited cap room and needs along the offensive line. So, there may be some haggling to do.

Perhaps the Chargers, who are around $5 million under the salary cap, may wait until after June 1 to try to get the Freeney deal done. They will get an additional $4 million in cap room then from cutting Jared Gaither. Freeney has been on the market for months and has not been in a hurry to get a deal done, so perhaps an agreement can be made in a few weeks if it can’t get done now in San Diego.

Whether San Diego signs Freeney or not, it must get more pass-rush help after 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram tore his ACL this week in a non-contact OTA drill.

In other AFC West notes:

Former Oakland running Mike Goodson was arrested in New Jersey on drug and gun charges. He left the Raiders for the Jets in free agency this offseason.

The Broncos made some minor language changes in the contract of quarterback Peyton Manning. Nothing changes for him financially or for the team’s salary cap. The change is procedural and involves Denver getting insurance money in case Manning, 37, doesn’t play in 2014.

New Oakland returner Josh Cribbs is not worried about his progress from a knee injury. He should be ready to go when the season starts.

The San Diego Chargers signed a pass-rusher in its attempt to bolster their roster after losing 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram for the season with a torn ACL.

No, the team didn’t add Dwight Freeney. Not yet, at least.

The Chargers announced they signed Thomas Keiser. The Stanford product spent the past two seasons in Carolina. He played a total of 12 games. His season was cut short after four games last year.

Keiser does have some pass-rushing ability. He had four sacks in eight games as a rookie. So, there is potential there. Keiser will have a chance to earn a roster spot to provide depth.

Still, the team has a need for a reliable replacement for Ingram. Freeney visited Wednesday and Thursday, and the team remains interested in him.

Melvin Ingram is keeping his spirits up after recently tearing his ACL in a non-contact drill.

The Chargers linebacker, who will miss the 2013 season, has vowed to come back. One of the reasons why Ingram is so confident he will return is because he has already done so once in his football career.

The Chargers’ 2012 first-round pick saw his sophomore season at South Carolina end before it started. He missed the 2008 season after breaking his foot in the spring. He returned in 2009 and had three productive seasons at South Carolina. I think that experience will help Ingram get through this recovery. He knows success can be had after a lost season.

Meanwhile, former first-round pick Larry English believes he can help make up for the loss of Ingram. English has accomplished little in four seasons in the NFL.

We discuss what Melvin Ingram’s torn ACL means to the Chargers and how Dwight Freeney would be used in San Diego if he signs.

Tom Telesco is not wasting any time.

Hours after losing key pass-rusher Melvin Ingram for the 2013 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in a non-contact drill, the San Diego Chargers general manager is bringing in Dwight Freeney in for a visit Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting. Telesco was with the Colts organization when Indianapolis drafted Freeney in 2002 and the two were together there through last season.

This isn’t a meet-and-greet. The Chargers are bringing Freeney in because Telesco is ready to make a move.

Freeney would be the team’s best and likely its most-used outside edge rusher. That was going to be the role for Ingram, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2012. Shaun Phillips and Antwan Barnes both left in free agency.

At age 33, Freeney is best suited to be a rotational player; he wasn't at his best in the 3-4 defenses the Colts used last season. The Chargers also use a 3-4 defense. But this is a desperate time for San Diego, and Freeney hasn’t gotten a lot of interest.

I expect the two sides to work hard to get a deal done. The Chargers have to be careful not to overpay Freeney, because they also need help at offensive tackle and are talking to Winston Justice and Max Starks.

The San Diego Chargers received terrible news Tuesday in their second day of organized non-contact drills.

The team announced 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram has a torn ACL.

The Chargers were counting on Ingram to provide a strong pass rush. He had a slow start to his rookie season, but he showed promise late. The team saw veteran edge rushers Shaun Phillips and Antwan Barnes leave in free agency.

Ingram was expected to be the primary pass-rusher from the edge. Defensive linemen Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget provide good pass-rush burst from the line, but the Chargers need an outside presence. Former first-round pick Larry English in on the roster, but he has shown he can’t be counted on. The Chargers drafted Tourek Williams in the late rounds last month. His route to the field may be expedited with Ingram’s injuries.

I’d think the Chargers would seriously consider pursuing veteran Dwight Freeney. He was in Indianapolis with new San Diego general manager Tom Telesco. Veteran John Abraham is also out there.

With Ingram out for the year, the Chargers will have to find help somewhere.

This will be a tough setback for a young player. His career will certainly be salvageable, but it will be such a waste to lose his second NFL season in May.

In other AFC West news:

• The Chiefs claimed offensive lineman Matt Reynolds from the Eagles and cornerback Buddy Jackson from the Giants. Reynolds was coached by new Kansas City coach Andy Reid last season.
• The Bills claimed tight end Mickey Shuler. He was cut by the Raiders.

Had the NFL draft been held the day after Manti Te'o and Notre Dame were handled in the national championship game by Alabama, the inside linebacker would have been considered a steal if he was a top-10 pick.

After all, this is a player who was considered the possible No. 1 overall pick last December -- one of the most decorated, praised players in the country during the 2012 season.

Fast-forward to the present, and the idea that Te’o lasted until the No. 38 pick is stunning. The Chargers sent the 45th and 110th choices to Arizona to move up and rock the draft with this selection.

“Great pick,” San Diego safety and leader Eric Weddle said by phone moments after the Chargers' move. “We got better. He is going to help us win games. I like this pick 1,000 percent.”

Te’o became a polarizing figure in January when the bizarre hoax involving a dead fake girlfriend became public. Te’o has said he had nothing to do with the Internet scheme, and the person behind the elaborate ploy has backed up Te’o’s claims.

Fair or not, the hoax has defined Te’o. His once-sterling character has come into question, and there is no doubt it hurt his draft status.

Of course, the title game and a slow 40-yard dash at the NFL combine didn’t help his cause. But let’s face it, if the hoax hadn't happened, Te’o would have gotten the benefit of the doubt on those issues -- particularly since he generated great tape throughout his college career, had great character and improved his speed at Notre Dame's pro day.

With Te’o, it’s all about the hoax.

That will stop, Weddle said. Indeed, Weddle brought up the issue himself.

"I could care less about that other stuff," Weddle said. “I’m sure everyone will think that way here.”

It has been said that Te’o, the butt of national jokes the past few months, will face his harshest critics in his NFL locker room. Weddle said that won’t be a problem in San Diego.

“If he wants to talk about it, we’ll listen,” Weddle said. “But it’s not going to be a problem here.”

I think Te’o is going to a perfect situation for him to achieve some normalcy. The Chargers have good leadership in Weddle, quarterback Philip Rivers, tight end Antonio Gates, center Nick Hardwick and linebacker Jarret Johnson. Indeed, Te'o told San Diego reporters Friday evening, Rivers had already called to welcome him to the team. This is a strong, business-oriented locker room. Te’o will be treated well.

Also, the team’s brass knows how to deal with off-field issues. New San Diego coach Mike McCoy was at the center of Tebow-mania while with Denver. Nothing can match that. New San Diego general manager Tom Telesco was in Indianapolis last season during coach Chuck Pagano’s public fight against cancer.

Distractions will not be a problem.

I also think Te’o will find friendly confines in the city. San Diego has a thriving Polynesian community, and one of the team’s greatest players, late linebacker Junior Seau, was Polynesian. Te’o will be welcomed with open arms. San Diego is not far, in relative terms, from Te’o’s native Hawaii, so that will raise his comfort level, too.

Plus, even though it is not so far from Hollywood, San Diego is laid back, and there isn’t a huge media presence around the team.

Sure, the team and Te’o will probably have to deal with the curiosity of it all early in camp, but that will go away pretty quickly.

Plus, in my opinion, the hoax is over. What else can come of it? Whether he was involved or not, Te’o faced public humiliation, he saw his NFL stock drop and now the recovery begins. He can become a linebacker again.

Te’o is being brought to San Diego to play football, and it’s a good fit.

San Diego is building a strong, young defense, and Te’o should be a nice piece in a linebacking corps that includes Johnson, Donald Butler and 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram. Add Te’o to a strong, young line and this is an intriguing group. Yes, Te’o has limitations in coverage, but San Diego will be versatile enough to highlight him on first and second downs, and he will be able to play to his strengths.

It’s been a trying three months for Te’o, but his NFL career is starting on the right track even though it’s from a draft slot several picks lower than expected.

I want to thank ESPN’s Matt Williamson for handling our AFC West Eight in the Box project last week while I was on vacation. The subject was 2013 breakout players.

I also wanted to pass my thoughts along on this topic. I chose my players for each AFC West team before looking at his selections. We agreed on one player, although I understand his reasoning for all of his picks. Here are mine:

Denver Broncos, running back Ronnie Hillman: This is Matt’s choice as well. We saw a glimpse of how Hillman can help this team in the playoff loss to Baltimore. He had some crucial carries after Knowshon Moreno was hurt. Denver coach John Fox has raved about Hillman and his role will expand. The team can bring in another running back (perhaps even in the first round of the draft), but Hillman, a third-round pick last year, will have a role as a change-of-pace option and as a receiver out of the backfield.

Kansas City Chiefs, receiver/returner Dexter McCluster: Matt went with safety Eric Berry. I think Berry has already arrived and so I’m going with McCluster because new Kansas City coach Andy Reid can’t stop talking about him. While this will be McCluster’s fourth NFL season, I truly think he is going to be given the chance to take the next step. Reid will design packages for the small McCluster to shine. If he doesn’t make an impact this year, it may be time for the Chiefs to move on.

Oakland Raiders, receiver Rod Streater: Matt went with third-year guard Stefen Wisniewski. I’ve been a Wisniewski fan since his rookie season. He is already a building block on a roster that is rebuilding, so I’m going with Streater. This is a team where everyone will get a chance to show they can be a standout. Streater got a head start as an undrafted rookie last year when he caught 39 passes. I have a feeling we will continue to see growth from him. He is very polished for an inexperienced player and goes about his work the right way. I see a bright future.

San Diego Chargers, defensive end Kendall Reyes: Matt went with 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram. I’m an Ingram believer and I think he will be terrific, but I went with Reyes because I see a big, big talent here. The 2012 second-round pick finished his rookie strong. He can be very disruptive and I think the defensive end combination of Reyes and 2011 first-round pick Corey Liuget (who had a big second NFL season) can be special this season.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Who is one potential breakout player for each AFC West team in 2013?

Denver Broncos: Ronnie Hillman. Hillman showed flashes as a rookie but has work to do with the finer points of the game, such as pass protection. This offseason -- along with the tutelage of Peyton Manning -- should help quite a bit. Denver has other bigger options in its backfield and could draft another running back, and Hillman might not be best suited to be an every-down back. But he has a dynamic and explosive running style and big-play ability as a runner and receiver. Also, with all the 11-personnel schemes (one RB/one TE) that the Broncos will use with Wes Welker, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas rarely leaving the field, Denver’s running game should see plenty of open space when used. The free-agent addition of Louis Vasquez also should help. Hillman won’t get 20-25 touches per game, but look for him to maximize the touches he gets.

Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry. Berry can be great but has yet to truly break out. He was a phenomenal safety prospect when he entered the league in 2010, but injuries derailed his second season. In fact, I think his knee injury hindered him for the first half of 2012 -- maybe even longer. Berry started to look like the player he was in college during the final six to eight games last year. That is extremely encouraging. And with a new attitude in Kansas City and a superior roster, Berry should be ready to flat-out explode in 2013 and soon be among the best safeties in the NFL.

Oakland Raiders: Stefen Wisniewski. There really isn’t much to pick from on Oakland’s roster in terms of possible breakout players, but Wisniewski has been solid at guard in his first two seasons. He isn’t the biggest or most powerful interior offensive lineman around, but he is agile, and his technique surpasses his NFL experience. Wisniewski is already very good in pass protection, which usually takes longer to develop than run-blocking skills. And with the Raiders likely changing from a zone- to a more of a man-blocking scheme, Wisniewski’s run-blocking could catch up to his abilities in protection. There aren’t many bright spots for the Raiders, but Wisniewski is one of them.

San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram. I was extremely high on Ingram a year ago as a draft prospect. While he didn’t set the league on fire as a rookie, I still expect him to develop into one of the better 3-4 outside linebackers in the league. As expected, Ingram has a lot of work to do as a coverage player, but San Diego would be wise to have this explosive playmaker coming forward on the majority of snaps. And with Shaun Phillips unlikely to be back, Ingram is now in line for many more snaps -- both in the base defense and in sub packages, where he has the skill set to be moved all over the defensive front. San Diego has its share of problems, but with young front-seven players such as Ingram, Donald Butler, Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget (who really broke out last season), the Chargers’ defense has quite a bit to build upon.

The pass-rushing position has been in the spotlight in the AFC West this offseason. Let’s take a look where each team in the division stands.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos have a need here after the infamous Elvis Dumervil fax machine gaffe which concluded with him signing with Baltimore. The Broncos have star pass-rusher Von Miller, but they are looking for another option to replace Dumervil. They could still sign a veteran such as Dwight Freeney or John Abraham, if the price is right. They could also draft a pass-rusher in the early rounds. Second-year end Derek Wolfe also provides a solid pass rush and Robert Ayers may also play more.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs now possess the best pass-rushing tandem in the division in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Hali has 35.5 sacks in the past three seasons and Houston has 15.5 sacks in two NFL seasons. This duo is terrific. The Chiefs may need some more defensive line help, but they are set with their primary pass-rushers.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders badly need some pass-rushers. It was poor in that area last year and it hasn’t addressed it this offseason. None of the front seven players Oakland has signed are known as great pass-rushers. Some will help, but there are no anchors. Oakland could address the area in the draft and it could re-sign veteran situational pass-rusher Andre Carter.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers could use some help. Antwan Barnes left this offseason and while Shaun Phillips could return, he remains unsigned. The team is hopeful that 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram takes the next step and brings consistent pressure. He showed flashes last year. The front three is solid as Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes both have strong ability. The Chargers are young at this position and it could quickly be in good shape. But if the price is right, bringing back a veteran like Phillips may not be a terrible idea.

Mid-week mail call:

Bill Davis from San Diego wants to know what I thought about Melvin Ingram's rookie season with the Chargers.

Bill Williamson: To be honest, I was expecting more from Ingram. I thought San Diego really scored when he fell to No. 18 last season and I still feel that way. I think he will be a fine player and he showed flashes. But I was looking for more consistency from Ingram because I think he can be special. But the future is bright.

Jesse Howerton from Kansas City, Kan., wants to know if Oakland could sign running back Brandon Jacobs.

BW: I like the idea of Jacobs because he is big and Oakland could use a player like him. But I worry that Jacobs, 30, may have seen better days. He didn’t fit in San Francisco at all and the team moved away from him. On the other hand, I think he can come cheap, so if the price is right and the expectations weren’t super high, I could see a possible fit in Oakland.

Rust Crew from Dallas, Pa. wants to know if I think Andy Reid could turn to Matt Cassel this year.

BW: I know the Chiefs aren’t publicly closing the door, but I highly, highly doubt it. I expect Cassel to be cut. His time is there up. He was connected to the previous regime and he has to go. It’s a new beginning in Kansas City and it starts at quarterback.

 

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. re-graded each team for the 2013 draft. Let’s take a look at his thoughts on each AFC West team:

Denver

Original grade: C+

New grade: B

My thoughts: Kiper bumped up the grade based mostly on the play of defensive lineman Derek Wolfe. He became a major contributor on one of the NFL’s best defense. There are also some interesting other pieces in this class.

Kansas City

Original grade: C+

New grade: C

My thoughts: The Chiefs’ class didn’t make a huge immediate impact, so that’s why Kiper dinged it a bit. But there are players that have a future.

Oakland

Original grade: C-

New grade: D+

My thoughts: The Raiders had a very small class and linebacker Miles Burris, a fourth-round pick, became a starter. Thus, I don’t agree with a downgrade.

San Diego

Original grade: B+

New grade: C+

My thoughts: The Chargers thought they were going to get a bigger impact, but I think Melvin Ingram and Kendall Reyes have big futures.

One player to watch from each AFC West team in Week 17:

Denver Broncos, linebacker, Keith Brooking: Brooking has been one of the more under-appreciated additions in the division. He was signed before the season at the age of 37 and was simply expected to provide some veteran depth. But he took over for Joe Mays as the starting middle linebacker in October and Denver’s defense hasn’t looked back. He has helped transform the run defense.

Kansas City Chiefs, defensive end, Tyson Jackson: There is a chance the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft will leave as a free agent and there a chance he has played his final game with the Chiefs. Jackson, who is dealing with a toe injury this week, is not flashy and he will never be, but he has developed into a solid player. I think the Chiefs will try to keep him as part of their defense. He will be missed Sunday at Denver if he can't play and he will be missed in 2013 if he isn't re-signed.

Oakland Raiders, receiver, Rod Streater: He has 35 catches. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Streater is the sixth undrafted rookie to catch 35 passes or more since 2000. He has been a bright spot for Oakland.

San Diego Chargers, Melvin Ingram, linebacker: Ingram hasn't had a lot of gaudy statistics as a rookie. He has just one sack this season, but has shown flashes and he had a great game against the Jets on Sunday. He looks like he has a good future and I’m sure he will try to finish the season strong against Oakland.

A player to watch from all four AFC West teams:

Denver, Ronnie Hillman, running back: The rookie will get extensive playing time at Kansas City on Sunday with starting running back Willis McGahee for the next eight weeks with a knee injury. Hillman is explosive and expect Denver to try to get to him the ball on the edge.

Kansas City, tight end, Tony Moeaki: He is starting to come around and has seven catches in the past two games. He now has 21 on the season. Moeaki was a rookie standout in 2010 but he missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Oakland, Denarius Moore, receiver: Moore had just one catch despite being targeted seven times Sunday against New Orleans. He is one of the most talented receivers in the AFC West and the Raiders need to utilize him more than just for one catch Sunday at Cincinnati.

San Diego, Melvin Ingram, pass-rusher: Ingram has just a half sack this season, but he was very active against Denver. He has made progress throughout the season and the Chargers are looking for him to continue against Baltimore.

DENVER -- Halftime thoughts from where the Denver Broncos lead the San Diego Chargers, 17-7.

• Last month, the Broncos scored the final 35 points to beat the Chargers 35-24. The Chargers led 7-0 but the Broncos scored the rest of the points of the half.
• Denver’s offense started slow, but it has started to pick it up, while its defense has been terrific and San Diego's offense has been anemic. San Diego has two first downs and is just 0-for-7 on third down.
• Quarterback Peyton Manning is now in second place on the NFL's all-time passing list with 421 touchdown passes. He was tied with Dan Marino but pushed past Marino when he threw a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in the corner of the end zone. It was originally ruled incomplete, but Denver challenged the call and won.
• San Diego’s score came on a deflected pass that was brought back for a short interception return for a score by safety Eric Weddle, who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That’s a skill.
• The Chargers had a punt blocked for the second straight game. It was Denver’s first blocked punt in five years. The last time was against San Diego as well.
• Broncos’ running back Willis McGahee is questionable to return with a knee injury. Chargers’ cornerback Quentin Jammer (calf) is questionable to return, and linebacker Larry English (leg) is out.
• Denver linebacker D.J. Williams has played some. His nine-game NFL suspension ended last week.
• San Diego's first-round pick, linebacker Melvin Ingram, is having a nice game.