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Denver Broncos

Champ Bailey says he doesn't anticipate a move to safety. "I'm a realist, though, if I see myself on tape and I think it's time to make a move, I'll know it's time to make a move, I'll be the first to see it, I'll be the first to know it," Bailey said, smiling. "In my mind, though, I might not say it right away, I might wait for somebody to ask."

Veteran defensive tackle Justin Bannan tells Lindsay Jones that he "tries not to" think too much about what effect playing football might have on his body down the road.

Kansas City Chiefs

Starting safeties Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis aren't on the field for this week's practices, but are seemingly on course to be back for training camp, the Kansas City Star reports.

The Chiefs signed free-agent wide receiver Aaron Weaver, who played collegiately at Syracuse in 2010 but missed 2011 with a knee injury.

Oakland Raiders

In a (very) brief statement following the Raiders' organized team activities Tuesday, linebacker Rolando McClain apologized for "the bad publicity that's been put out there" following his legal troubles, CSN Bay Area reports. McClain's teammates have said the linebacker seems unfazed by the recent events.

The new defensive scheme is getting good reviews from players so far, according to the Raiders' official site.

Tight end David Ausberry has added 15 pounds this offseason and is up to 265 as he focuses on claiming a starting role, CBSSports.com reports.

San Diego Chargers

A rules change that will require all players to wear knee and thigh pads beginning in 2013 is "dumb," cornerback Quentin Jammer told U-T San Diego.

Philip Rivers lost pal and backup Billy Volek in a salary-cap move over the offseason, but a reunion with Charlie Whitehurst has the Chargers' starting quarterback feeling pretty comfortable, Kevin Acee writes.

Weekend mail call:

Donald from parts unknown wants to know if Denver could draft Houston quarterback Case Keenum or Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

Bill Williamson: At this point, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what Denver will do in the draft at quarterback. I have a feeling it may take a quarterback, but it may not do it until the third day. I think the Broncos aren’t looking for a young quarterback to compete with Tim Tebow this year, so there is no need to draft one early. That could happen next year if Tebow fails in 2012. However, as far as this draft goes, Denver football leader John Elway may look for a bargain that fits what he likes. Both Keenum and Moore are considered third-day picks. They are successful, capable quarterbacks, but they both lack ideal NFL quarterback size. I think if a player like Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden was available in the fourth or fifth round, he could interest Elway more because of his size.

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Evan from San Diego wants to know if the Chargers may move cornerback Quentin Jammer to safety.

BW: It has already been reported that Jammer will not move to safety next year. Jammer, who’ll turn 33 in June, saw his production slip some in 2011. I think he could be moved to safety down the road. But for now, expect the Chargers to pursue a starting safety (perhaps in the first round of the draft) to pair with Eric Weddle and then try to add another cornerback to the rotation.

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Dennis from Ontario, Ore. wants to know if the Broncos could take Oregon’s LaMichael James in the second or third round.

BW: The only thing I worry about James fitting in Denver is his lack of size. He is more of a change of pace back and Denver may be looking for a bigger back that projects to be able to carry a bigger load. However, if he is available in the third round and the Broncos like him, perhaps it will be a fit. Still, I think Denver will be looking for a more complete back early in the draft.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers turns 30 Thursday. To commemorate Rivers’ entrance into the 30-and-over club, let’s look at the 10 best players in the AFC West, in my opinion, who are 30 or older.

The championship window has closed in San Diego.

Once considered the best roster in the league, the San Diego Chargers have seen impressive depth dwindle, they’ve gotten old in key spots and they have lacked toughness. The result has been a steady decline in the last two years.

“They are one of the most confusing teams I’ve ever seen,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said. “You expect so much from them and then they don’t deliver … They should be so much better, but then you watch them and they can’t do it. I just don’t get them.”

The Chargers -- widely considered as a Super Bowl contender going into this season -- stagger into a Monday night game at Jacksonville on a six-game losing skid. It is the Chargers’ longest such streak in 10 years.

After starting 4-1 and looking like a playoff team, San Diego is now 4-7 and apparently on course to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. After owning the AFC West for four years, the Chargers are 13-14 since the start of the 2010 season.

When a rift developed between general manager A.J. Smith and coach Marty Schottenheimer after the Chargers went 14-2 in 2006, Smith hired Norv Turner to take a stacked roster to the Super Bowl. That probably won’t happen. Turner, who is 45-30 as Chargers coach, is expected to be fired unless the Chargers, who are three games behind in both the AFC West and the AFC wild-card races with five games to go, make a miraculous playoff run. Smith's job could also be in danger, particularly if San Diego ownership wants to break the bank and make a run at someone like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. There have also been indications that the team is open to continuing with Smith as the top football decision-maker.

However, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the team may be leaning toward firing Smith.

The Chargers have long been lauded for their roster of big-name talent. In the past decade, they drafted potential Hall of Famers in LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers and signed potential Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates. They also drafted Shawne Merriman, who had a strong first three years as a premier pass-rusher before disappearing because of injuries.

All the Chargers have remaining from that group is Rivers, who turns 30 this month, and Gates, who is 31 and who has been dealing with serious foot injuries for three years.

Whoever coaches the Chargers in 2012 – Cowher and Jeff Fisher are already being mentioned as potential candidates – will have some work to do. Some solid core players remain, starting with Rivers, who is struggling through his worst NFL season. Still, the Chargers probably will have to be rebuilt in several areas.

“They aren’t as deep as we always thought they were,” Horton said. “They have problems on the offensive line, their receivers aren’t that strong and the defense doesn’t pass rush anymore."

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks San Diego has some core players -- but not a ton of them, and some of them have question marks. Williamson says Rivers, receiver Vincent Jackson, Gates, guard Kris Dielman, defensive tackle Antonio Garay, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Quentin Jammer and safety Eric Weddle are all players who can help the team in the future. Williamson also thinks the team’s last two first-round picks, running back Ryan Mathews and defensive lineman Corey Liuget, have a chance to be core players.

Jackson, who has been inconsistent this year, is a free agent after the season. The Chargers may place the franchise tag on him. Rivers, Gates, Dielman (out for the season with a concussion), Garay, Phillips and Jammer will be 30 or older next season. Still, Williamson believes a coaching change could help provide a spark.

“It’s not all Norv’s fault, but he is not maximizing his team’s potential, which is obviously a key component to his job,” Williamson said.

Horton said he believes that if the Chargers do make a coaching change, they need to bring in a taskmaster. There have been whispers among scouts the past couple of years that the Chargers get outmuscled too often. There have been times when San Diego has been manhandled on both lines, including a few instances against the more physical Raiders.

“I like Norv, but I get the feeling they are not playing hard for him,” Horton said. “They always look soft to me, and they often don’t play with a sense of urgency.”

Still, the Chargers have not been blown out this season and they could have won all seven of their losses; indeed, they have made crucial fourth-quarter (or overtime) mistakes in each of their losses. Turner said this week that effort is not a problem.

“Go through the tapes and there’s great effort,” Turner said. “These guys play hard.”

The players I have talked to in San Diego’s locker room know that change is likely to come, and they say they feel bad that Turner is probably going to be the person to pay for the team’s failures. But it is clear that the Chargers’ time as elite playoff contenders is over. If they are going to re-open their Super Bowl window, it will probably be with new leadership.

SAN DIEGO — Notes from early in the second quarter, where the Raiders lead 7-3:

First-year Oakland coach Hue Jackson has earned a reputation as being one of the trickiest coaches in the NFL in the first half of the season. Among the tricks he pulled out was a fake punt in which Shane Lechler hit tight end Kevin Boss for a touchdown Oct. 16 against Cleveland.

Thursday, on fourth-and-1 from inside Chargers territory, Lechler – the Raiders’ emergency quarterback — tried to hit Jacoby Ford, but the pass fell incomplete. San Diego’s Quentin Jammer was all over Ford, but officials ruled that there was no pass interference because there cannot be pass interference on the widest receiver on punt formations.

Oakland running Michael Bush – starting his second consecutive game for the injured Darren McFadden – had a strong first quarter. He had 78 yards on 13 carries as Oakland handled the Chargers’ defense pretty easily.

The Chargers’ red-zone issues bit them again on their first drive. They scooted inside the Raiders’ 20-yard line before making some mistakes and settling for a short Nick Novak field goal.

The Raiders need to shore up their punt defense. Sunday, Denver’s Eddie Royal returned one back for a touchdown. In the first quarter, San Diego rookie Marcus Gilchrist took a lateral from Patrick Crayton and went 40 yards into Oakland territory.

For the second consecutive game, the Chargers are getting booed in their own stadium. There is a solid number of Oakland fans here, although not nearly the amount of Green Bay fans who attended Sunday’s game.

Oakland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and tight end Boss played early in the game after barely seeing the field against Denver. Jackson simply said the two were not a big part of that particular game plan.

The San Diego Chargers trip to the media capital of the sports world resulted in salacious comments and headlines.

Of course, it started last week when Jets coach Red Ryan – who thrives on making headlines – said he’d have a couple of Super Bowl rings had the Chargers hired him and not Norv Turner in 2007. Turner retuned a zinger of his own.

Then, the real fireworks started. The Chargers saw the Jets come back from a 21-10 deficit at halftime to win 27-21 and drop San Diego to 4-2, promoting the Chargers to get some national criticism in their spotlight game.

San Diego tight end Randy McMichael refused to credit the Jets for the win, saying the Chargers blew the game and it was all on them. Monday, Ryan had his usual witty retort for McMichael.

San Diego cornerback Quentin Jammer did his part to keep the headline writers happily in New York, by questioning the officials. San Diego was called for 13 penalties Sunday after not being penalized in their last game, a Week 5 win in Denver.

“No way it was called fairly,” Jammer told the New York Post. “No way. Not at all. It wasn’t called fairly at all. Maybe I’m being biased, but I’m just judging off what I saw. It wasn’t a fair game called."

Don’t be surprised if Jammer receives a fine from the NFL, which doesn’t take kindly to their officials being publicly criticized by players and coaches.

In the meantime, the Chargers need to put all the New York drama behind them and prepare to face host Kansas City in a big Monday night game next week. If the Chiefs win, there will be a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West between Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland. Now, that would be dramatic.

The San Diego Chargers got some good and bad news on the injury front Friday.

Tight end Antonio Gates, as expected, was listed as doubtful to play Sunday at Denver with a foot injury. He has missed the past two games. Gates, who has been replaced by Randy McMichael, is expected to try to come back after the Chargers’ Oct 16 bye. However, the Chargers got a dose of good news when receiver Vincent Jackson was listed as probable with a hamstring injury that he suffered last week. He practiced fully Friday after not practicing the first two days of the week. Cornerback Quentin Jammer (illness) practiced fully Friday after he didn’t practice Thursday. He is listed as probable.

In Denver, safety Brian Dawkins is questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice Friday after he didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday. Left cornerback Champ Bailey practiced fully all week and is expected to play after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

In Oakland, coach Hue Jackson ruled out defensive end Matt Shaughnessy, cornerback Chris Johnson and tight end Richard Gordon for Sunday’s game at Houston. Shaughnessy and Johnson were out last week. Fullback Marcel Reece is listed as questionable. He didn’t play last week and he didn’t practice all week. Jackson said the team could sign defensive lineman Trevor Pryce at a later date. They looked at Pryce, 36, this week to help with Shaughnessy out, but they decided against it at this time.

In Kansas City, 2011 first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin is listed as probable to play for the first time. He practiced all week after missing six weeks with a thumb injury he reportedly suffered in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones. Still, Kansas City coach Todd Haley told reporters Friday that he is not sure if Baldwin will be active at Indianapolis. If not, he should be ready to go after the team’s Oct. 16 bye.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates (foot) and receiver Vincent Jackson (hamstring) sat out practice again Thursday. The teams still hopes Jackson can play Sunday at Denver. Gates will likely miss his third straight game and not come back until after the Chargers’ bye next week.

Cornerback Quentin Jammer didn’t practice Thursday after he worked fully Wednesday. He missed Thursday’s practice with an illness. He missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury. San Diego center Nick Hardwick practiced fully Thursday after missing Wednesday’s practice with a neck injury.

In Denver, cornerback Champ Bailey continued to make strides toward returning Sunday after a three-week absence due to a hamstring injury. He told reporters in Denver on Thursday that he expects to play Sunday. He practiced fully both practice days this week.

Denver does have some issues at safety. Brian Dawkins (ankle) missed his second straight day of practice and fellow starter Rahim Moore missed Thursday’s practice with an illness. The Broncos hope they both play, but if not, rookie Quentin Carter and little-used veteran David Bruton would be set to play against the Chargers.

In Oakland, Defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder), cornerback Chris Johnson (hamstring and, fullback Marcel Reece (ankle) haven’t practice this week and it may be difficult for them to play Sunday at Houston. None of the three players played in Week 4.

In Kansas City, rookie receiver Jonathan Baldwin practiced fully for the second straight day and he is on pace to play Sunday at Indianapolis for the first time this season. He has been out since mid-August after he reportedly injured his thumb in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates missed practice again Wednesday with a nagging foot injury. He has missed the past two games with the injury. It would not be a surprise if Randy McMichael plays for Gates again Sunday at Denver.

The Chargers have their bye after the game and they may want to give Gates more time to rest.

• Meawhile, San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson didn’t practice with a hamstring injury that caused him to leave Sunday’s win over Miami. While it is still early in the week, the Chargers are hopeful Jackson can play at Denver. Center Nick Hardwick did not practice Wednesday with a neck injury. He is expected to play at Denver. Cornerback Quentin Jammer was practicing fully after he missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
• Denver's Champ Bailey practiced fully Wednesday. He looks like he is on pace to play against visiting San Diego on Sunday. Bailey has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury.
• Denver rookie starting right tackle Orlando Franklin has been excused by the team to deal with a family matter. It is not known if Franklin will return to the team in time for Sunday’s game against San Diego.
• San Diego coach Norv Turner had a fairly amusing answer when asked to respond to the prediction of Oakland coach Hue Jackson that the Raiders will win the AFC West this season.
• The Raiders are hoping safety Michael Huff (concussion) and defensive end Matt Shaugnessy (shoulder) could play at Houston on Sunday. Neither player played in Week 4.

It seems like the San Diego Chargers have a new, high-profile injury to deal with every week.

This week is no different.

The injury storyline will focus on star receiver Vincent Jackson. He suffered a leg injury in the Chargers’ win over Miami on Sunday. He had been dealing with an abdomen injury and he suffered the leg injury while compensating for his original injury. San Diego coach Norv Turner indicated he doesn’t think the injury will be overly serious. It will be determined if Jackson can play Sunday at Denver later in the week.

The Chargers expect cornerback Quentin Jammer back this week. He didn’t play against Miami because of a hamstring injury.

Turner said tight end Antonio Gates is making progress from his lingering foot injury that has kept him out of the past two games. I could still see Gates being held out of the Denver game so he can come back. That would include the Oct. 16 bye with about a month’s rest.

In other AFC West nuggets Monday:

San Diego general manager A.J. Smith paid homage to Raiders’ owner Al Davis while assessing his own team after a win over Miami on Sunday.

Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel continued to downplay a heated exchange he had with coach Todd Haley in Sunday’s win in a radio interview.

It is looking like the Raiders won’t face Houston star receiver Andre Johnson on Sunday. He has a hamstring injury.

The NFL officially approved of the Broncos to make their orange jerseys their primary home jersey. It will begin in 2012. The Broncos made the decision to make their orange jerseys (they are currently an “alternative” jersey) several months ago, Denver’s current primary home jersey is dark blue. Now, here’s the real question: Who is going to be the quarterback in orange next year?

As expected, the San Diego Chargers will be without tight end Antonio Gates (foot) and cornerback Quentin Jammer (hamstring) Sunday against visiting Miami.

I would not be surprised if Gates doesn’t return until after the Chargers’ Oct. 16 bye. Rookie Marcus Gilchrist will play for Jammer.

Denver left cornerback Champ Bailey is inactive for the third straight game with a hamstring injury. He warmed up Sunday morning in Green Bay, but the team decided he is not ready to play.

Elvis Dumervil, though, is active. He has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury. Running back Knowshon Moreno is also active after he missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He is expected to back up Willis McGahee against the Packers.

Meanwhile, the Denver Post reports that the Broncos have a plan to see reserve quarterback Tim Tebow in some packages Sunday at Green Bay.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates is not expected to play against Miami, because of a lingering foot injury that kept him out of six games last season and last week’s game. I could see San Diego holding Gates out until after its Oct. 16 bye. Gates will be replaced by veteran Randy McMichael.

Cornerback Quentin Jammer is also doubtful. He suffered a hamstring injury last week. Promising rookie Marcus Gilchrist is expected to play for Jammer against Miami on Sunday.

The battered Chargers listed starting receivers Vincent Jackson (abdomen) and Malcom Floyd (groin) as questionable. But they both practiced fully Friday, so that is a good sign they will play Sunday. Running back Ryan Mathews (foot) and rookie defensive end Corey Liuget (ankle) are both probable after they both practiced fully Friday.

The Denver Broncos do not know if they will have the services of two key defensive players Sunday at Green Bay.

Both cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring) and defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder) have been listed as questionable on the injury report. Neither has been on the field since Week 1, and both were limited all week in practice.

Denver’s defense -- which was ranked No. 32 last season -- is ranked No. 16 this season. Getting Bailey and Dumervil back should only improve the Broncos.

Running back Knowshon Moreno is listed as probable. He has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He’ll likely back up Willis McGahee on Sunday while he shakes off the rust.

In Oakland, safety Michael Huff (concussion), defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) and fullback Marcel Reece (ankle) are all questionable to play against New England on Sunday. All three are key cogs for the Raiders. Cornerback Chris Johnson (hamstring) and receiver Louis Murphy (sports hernia) are out, as expected. Receiver Jacoby Ford (hamstring) is listed as questionable, but he is expected to play for the first time since Week 1.

There are several Oakland players listed as probable, but they are all expected to play.

In Kansas City, cornerback Brandon Flowers (ankle) and safety Jon McGraw (shin) are questionable to play against visiting Minnesota on Sunday. They were both limited all week in practice. Rookie first-round pick Jon Baldwin is out. He has been limited in practice the past two weeks. He suffered a thumb injury in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones six weeks ago. It seems like Baldwin will play at some point, but you have to wonder how long it will take him to catch up when he does hit the field.

While the San Diego Chargers will likely wait to make the decision, it is looking more and more like Antonio Gates is on his way to missing his second straight game with a nagging foot injury. The star tight end did not practice for the second straight day. I could see Gates sitting out until after the Chargers’ Oct. 16 bye. San Diego hosts Miami on Sunday and plays at Denver in Week 5.

The Chargers are dealing with several injuries. Receiver Malcom Floyd (groin), receiver Vincent Jackson (abdomen), cornerback Quentin Jammer (hamstring), running back Ryan Mathews (foot) all didn’t practice. That is a lot of missing firepower, but we’ll find out more Friday when the Chargers release their injury report. The battered team did get some good news. Rookie defensive end Corey Liuget practiced fully Thursday. He missed last week with an ankle injury.

In other AFC West news Thursday evening:

• Oakland safety Michael Huff missed practice Thursday. He suffered a concussion against the Jets. It is not known whether he’ll play Sunday against the Patriots or not. The Raiders will need his presence against the pass-happy Patriots.
• Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said Thursday that he expects Wesley Woodyard to continue to play even if D.J. Williams is ready to play. Williams has been dealing with an elbow injury since the preseason. Woodward has been a tackling machine in Williams’ absence. Still, I’d expect Denver to find playing time for a healthy Williams. One of those two players likely play in nickel situations, which means they would both be on the field together often.
• Denver cornerback Champ Bailey said he is close to being able play. He has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He has been limited in practice this week.
• The officials have been nice to Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell.

Chiefs’ first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin doesn’t think he will be “behind the eight ball” when he finally gets on an NFL field. He hasn’t practiced fully in the six weeks since he suffered a thumb injury in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones. Baldwin has worked on a limited basis during the team’s past four practices.

San Diego rookie cornerback Marcus Gilchrist is ready to play Sunday with Quentin Jammer perhaps out with a hamstring injury.

It’s been a long time since Tom Brady has played a game in his native Bay Area. It didn’t go well. He’ll get another a chance Sunday against Oakland.

Raiders’ running back Darren McFadden’s talks about the excitement in Oakland in a radio interview.

Here’s a look at why Andrew Luck is worth going through the pain of being the worst team in the NFL this season.

A Wednesday injury look around the AFC West:

Denver Broncos: Cornerback Champ Bailey was limited in practice Wednesday. He missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. Defensive end Elvis Dumervil was also limited with a shoulder injury. He, too, missed the past two games. Running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and linebacker D.J. Williams (elbow) both practiced fully.

Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback Brandon Flowers was limited with an ankle injury he suffered Sunday at San Diego. Receiver Jon Baldwin was limited for the fourth straight practice. He reportedly suffered a thumb injury in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones. It’s promising that Baldwin is working some, but until he practices fully, you must wonder when will he be able to make his NFL debut. The first-round pick is nearly six weeks behind.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders received good news when receiver Jacoby Ford re-joined practice Wednesday. He has been out for the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. His presence should only make a potent offense even more potent. Safeties Michael Huff and Mike Mitchell were also back at practice. Cornerback Chris Johnson and receiver Louis Murphy remain out, and their chances of playing at New England may be affected.

San Diego Chargers: The San Diego Union Tribune reported that cornerback Quentin Jammer, tight end Antonio Gates, receiver Vincent Jackson and receiver Malcom Floyd were all not practicing. None of this news is surprising. The Chargers often keep players who are banged up out of practice early in the week. We will have to monitor each player’s progress later in the week.