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The Kansas City Chiefs got good news Thursday when defensive end Tyson Jackson (knee), right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan (groin) and receiver Chris Chambers (finger) were taken off the injury report.

The big news here is that Jackson should be ready to play extensively Sunday against Jacksonville. The No. 3 overall pick in 2009 hasn’t played since Week 1. Jackson played well in the game against San Diego after having a slow rookie season. His presence should make an improving defense stronger.

• San Diego will get to see the Chargers play on Sunday. At 2-4, the city may not be all that thrilled to do so, however. With that said, the team sold enough tickets for the game to be declared a sellout by Thursday’s deadline. The two previous games in San Diego this season have been blacked out. Before this season, San Diego sold out 48 straight home games. However, their current steak may not last long. The team announced there are 12,000 seats available for the Oct. 31 home game against Tennessee. If the Chargers lose to the Patriots, there will likely be little chance that game will be sold out.

• It is being reported out of Kansas City that Chiefs defensive lineman Shaun Smith won his appeal on a $10,000 fine by the NFL. He was fined for grabbing the groin area of San Francisco tackle Anthony Davis in Week 3.

• It looks like Oakland rookie Jared Veldheer is getting close to becoming the full-time starting left tackle.

• Joining other teams, the Broncos voted to de-certify the union in case there is a lockout.

San Diego Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates didn’t practice Wednesday because of a toe injury he suffered in a loss at St. Louis on Sunday. He could miss Sunday’s game against New England.

Receiver Legedu Naanee didn’t practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury that kept him of the Rams’ game. Naanee will be needed because No. 1 receiver Malcom Floyd will likely not play against the Patriots with a hamstring injury. Running back Ryan Mathews was kept out of Wednesday’s practice because of a nagging ankle injury.

Mathews is expected to play, but if Gates, Floyd and Naanee are out, San Diego will be hard pressed to score points against the Patriots.

• It appears Kansas City defensive end Tyson Jackson is making strides to getting back on the field. He practiced fully Wednesday. He has been out since Week 1 with a knee injury. Receiver Chris Chambers (finger) and right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan (groin) also practiced fully for the Chiefs.

• Kansas City signed defensive lineman Atiyyah Ellison. He had six starts for Jacksonville last year. The Chiefs play Jacksonville on Sunday. Ellison takes over for Alex Magee, who was traded to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Here are some details of the deal.

• In his rookie watch on ESPN.com, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. shows excitement over the play of Oakland defensive lineman Lamarr Houston. Oakland may have a real find in the second-round pick.

• San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers and Denver quarterback Kyle Orton made ESPN.com’s MVP watch.

• Former NFL salary cap man Andrew Brandt has an interesting look at the recent contract extension signed by San Diego left tackle Marcus McNeill.

• The Broncos signed tight end John Nalbone and defensive lineman Mitch Unrein to the practice squad.

In Denver, cornerbacks Champ Bailey (foot) and Andre' Goodman (thigh) were both limited in practice Friday. It was their first practice action of the week. They are listed as questionable to face Indianapolis. Guard Chris Kuper (knee) is questionable. He missed last week’s game. Right tackle Ryan Harris (ankle) will miss his third straight game and running back Knowshon Moreno is out with a hamstring injury he suffered during practice. He missed a month in the preseason with a hamstring injury.

In Kansas City, defensive end Tyson Jackson (knee) and right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (groin) are doubtful to play against San Francisco. They both missed last week’s win over the Browns.

In Oakland, running back Michael Bush will play for the first time since suffering a broken left thumb Aug. 28. Guard Robert Gallery is out with a hamstring, while defensive tackle Richard Seymour is expected back after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. Defensive tackle John Henderson (foot) will be a game-time decision.

In San Diego, running back Ryan Mathews (ankle) is doubtful. Mike Tolbert is expected to be the primary back. Linebackers Stephen Cooper (knee) and Larry English (foot) are questionable.

The Kansas City Chiefs ruled out defensive end Tyson Jackson of playing Sunday in Cleveland. Jackson has a knee injury he suffered in the Chiefs’ win over San Diego on Monday night.

Jackson was listed as questionable Friday but he was downgraded Saturday. Perhaps with a solid week of progress Jackson will be ready to play in Week 3 against San Francisco.

Jackson was the No. 3 overall pick in 2009.After a disappointing rookie season, Jackson played well in the win over the Chargers. Right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan was also ruled out of the Cleveland game on Saturday. He has a groin injury.

Check out Vincent Jackson’s interview with the NFL Network. Jackson hasn’t talked publicly in months. While he didn’t have anything earth shattering to say, he remained respectful and reiterated that he wanted to stay in San Diego and was prepared to sit out the season.

I look at his comments as a job interview for other general managers around the league. Even though Jackson is a Pro Bowl player he is a pretty low-profile guy. This interview gave him a chance to speak to other teams and show he has a pretty relaxed demeanor. Perhaps it will help spark trade talks.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com looks at how Jackson’s holdout affects fantasy league drafts. It’s risky, but Jackson could be a steal in the late rounds if he ends up getting traded.

Kansas City starting right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan is dressed, but not playing against Philadelphia on Friday night. He suffered a leg injury during practice this week and was replaced by Barry Richardson.

The Broncos will juggle their offensive line against Pittsburgh on Sunday night to try to find the right mix.

The Raiders are joining the California Lottery for a new lottery ticket game.

As expected, Oakland No. 1 receiver Chaz Schilens underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. The Raiders put no timetable on his recovery, but similar surgeries often take 3-4 weeks to recover, so Schilens may have a hard time getting ready for the Sept. 12 season opener at Tennessee. Schilens has been dealing with a foot injury for more than a year.

In the same article, it was reported that center Samson Satele may be out for some time with an ankle problem and rookie Alex Daniels was moved back to the defensive line after spending some time at fullback.

• San Diego running back Ryan Mathews has undergone a procedure to stop nose bleeds, which has been hampering him for some time.

• Kansas City starting right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan departed practice Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.

• You know it’s bad when Javon Walker takes a crack at you. While meeting with media members in Minnesota, the new Viking was the latest to take a jab at former Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell. “Like I said, it all boils down to being in the right situation and the right quarterback,” Walker said. “Last year, I was in Oakland. Everybody knows that situation.” Granted, Russell was horrible. But Walker was no better. He had had 15 catches, all in 2008, in two seasons in Oakland.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 27

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Sure, Scott Pioli and Todd Haley would rather their Kansas City Chiefs program was further along than it is as they approach the second preseason game of their second summer at the helm.

But they know it’s a long process. And the process is taking shape.

“I’ve been a part of great teams,” said Pioli, who was an executive in New England during its glory years. “We’re not there, but I’m encouraged. I feel better than I did this time last year.”

Pioli and Haley, whom Pioli hired as a first-time head coach in 2009, knew it would be a challenge when they took over a Kansas City team that won a combined six games in 2007 and '08. The Chiefs were not much better last season, finishing 4-12, but the team did make strides late in the year.

“I knew last year wasn’t going to be easy or fun or smooth or comfortable,” Haley said. “And it lived up to expectations. ... But we were building a program and trying to change things. We’re doing it our way.”

As a result, Pioli and Haley have seen progress this offseason and so far in camp.

“It’s apples and oranges,” Haley said. “I really like what we’re seeing. We still have a long way to go and we haven't done anything yet, but we are seeing the pieces come together in this program.”

That’s all the team’s brass can ask for from this young, intriguing team.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Is quarterback Matt Cassel getting better? It’s difficult to say quite yet. The word is that he has been better at times during camp, but he didn’t do much against Atlanta in the first preseason game. It’s time Cassel is unleashed and given the chance to show what he can do. The team is being very careful with him. Cassel has better weapons this year. With a better supporting cast, Cassel should be better in his second season in Kansas City. But we just haven’t seen it yet. His ability to lead Kansas City will very likely, once again, be a major storyline heading into the regular season.

2. What’s the influence of the two new coordinators? We are seeing a more disciplined, organized Kansas City team this camp. Much of the reason is because Haley is in his second season and everything usually flows better in a second season of a new era. Haley also acknowledges the presence of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel helps. The two veteran coaches, who were a big part of New England’s dynasty days, give valuable experience to Haley’s staff and bring a real presence to this team. This is a young team that has responded well to the top-notch coaching. The Chiefs are still very much a work in progress, but Weis and Crennel are helping bring this program up to speed.

“I think we have more continuity this year because of who we added to the staff,” Pioli said. “We all have history together.”

3. Where’s the pass rush coming from? We don’t know yet and that is worrisome. How are the Chiefs going to be a real contender if they don’t have a legitimate pass rush? This has been a problem in Kansas City since Jared Allen was shipped to Minnesota in 2008. We all know the Chiefs didn’t want to sign Allen to a long-term deal and we know the Chiefs got a decent bounty in return for him, but the truth is the pass rush has been almost non-existent since he left. In Allen’s first year away, the Chiefs set an NFL record for the fewest sacks in a season with 10. Last year, the pass rush was anemic as well. The lone legitimate pass-rusher on the team is Tamba Hali. He often hurries the quarterback, but he has little help. There haven’t been many people in training camp to stand up and show Kansas City they are ready to help Hali either. Thus, this may continue to be a major weak spot in Kansas City.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Many Kansas City fans were in an uproar when Thomas Jones was listed as the starter on the camp depth chart. Jamaal Charles looked like the league’s next star running back when he finished with 1,120 yards last season after becoming the starter at midseason. Jones was signed as a free agent this offseason to complement Charles and to keep him fresh. Still, having Jones at the top of the depth chart was an indication that Charles could be buried. Don’t worry about it, though. Despite the surprising depth-chart look, Charles will get plenty of carries. This should be a dynamite pair.

“I really like where this running game is going,” Cassel said. “A good running game is a quarterback’s best friend and I think it can really help us.”

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

One of the reasons the Kansas City front seven has yet to establish itself is the lack of impact made by the team’s last two first-round picks. That can be a killer to the team. Glenn Dorsey was the No. 5 overall pick in 2008 and Tyson Jackson was the No. 3 overall pick last year. Both are starters, but neither player has had a major impact. These are supposed to be cornerstone players. If Dorsey doesn’t get it in his third season, when will he?

OBSERVATION DECK

• The Chiefs’ rookie class has the camp buzzing. Safeties Eric Berry (first round) and Kendrick Lewis (fifth), running back/receiver Dexter McCluster (second), cornerback/returner Javier Arenas (second) and tight end Tony Moeaki (third) have all stood out. Each of those players has a chance to make major contributions right away. This has a chance to be a dynamic group.
• After spending much of last season in Haley’s doghouse, linebacker Derrick Johnson is still not working with the first team. Still, Johnson is too talented not to have a role on this team.
• This has been a physical camp. Of the team’s 27 camp practices, 25 have been in pads. There’s no doubt Haley wants to make this one of the most physical teams in the league.
• Receiver Dwayne Bowe looks to be in decent shape. Bowe has had his issues under Haley, but he seems to be working fairly hard as he is about to enter a pivotal season in his career.
• Keep an eye on defensive tackle Derek Lokey. He could play a big role.
• Backup quarterback Brodie Croyle had looked pretty good in camp before suffering an arm injury. It wouldn’t be a shock if there is some interest from other teams in the former starter if he can return to health fairly soon.
• The Kansas City offensive line is improved, but right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan has struggled some. It could be a problem area.
• The Chiefs love the big leg of second-year kicker Ryan Succop. He missed two 53-yarders at Atlanta, but the team has no problem letting him rip on long attempts.
• Restricted free-agent safety Jarrad Page is staging what is the league’s quietest holdout. Nobody seems to care, the Chiefs included. They have clearly moved on with the youngsters at safety. Page could be dumped for a low draft pick at some point.
• Arenas could push third-year man Brandon Carr for some playing time at right cornerback. Arenas is good in man-to-man coverage, which the Chiefs like. Carr is more of a Cover 2 guy.
• The Chiefs have practiced the Wildcat some. With players such as Charles and McCluster available to operate it, this could be a very nice occasional wrinkle for Kansas City to use.

This is astounding. The National Football Post is reporting that some teams are considering moving quarterback JaMarcus Russell to another position. Wild.

Over the course of the past couple of seasons I’d get notes from frustrated Raiders’ fans who wondered if moving Russell to the offensive line was a good idea. Now, apparently, it is being considered. Unless, of course, some team is thinking about moving Russell to tailback or cornerback.

This must cement Russell as the all-time NFL draft bust. The idea of moving a quarterback (no matter how big he may be) to another position to salvage his career is simply stunning. Oakland chose him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007.

Meanwhile, the folks of Russell’s hometown are having a difficult time dealing with his recent release from the Raiders.

Here is a good Q & A with San Diego rookie Cam Thomas.

The Chiefs are counting on right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan.

The career of a Denver backup offensive lineman may be over after a golf-cart injury. Add this to Ryan Clady’s basketball injury that could sideline him into the season and it’s been a tough offseason for Denver’s offensive line.

The Broncos are reportedly looking into signing a rugby star.

On the final day that teams can sign restricted free agents to offer sheets, the Kansas City Chiefs had three of their restricted free agents sign tenders.

Backup quarterback Brodie Croyle, center Rudy Niswanger and backup tackle Ryan O'Callaghan are all now under contract with the Chiefs for the 2010 season. They can all be unrestricted free agents in 2011.

The Chiefs’ brass really likes Croyle and thinks he can be a solid backup. Niswanger will compete with newly signed veteran Casey Wiegmann.

Thirty of the 212 NFL players who would lose their status as unrestricted free agents this offseason if the league and its union can't agree on a new labor contract play in the AFC West. They'd be restricted free agents.

Several big-name players from the division on are the list. There is some time between now and when free agency starts, but if a new deal isn’t made (and it seems unlikely at this point that there will be a new deal) it could greatly impact these players.

Here’s the list:

Denver

Elvis Dumervil LB

Chris Kuper OG

Brandon Marshall WR

Kyle Orton QB

Tony Scheffler TE

Le Kevin Smith DE

Kansas City

Brodie Croyle QB

Derrick Johnson LB

Corey Mays LB

Rudy Niswanger C

Ryan O’Callaghan T

Jarrad Page S

Oakland

Jon Alston LB

Khalif Barnes OT

Ricky Brown LB

Charlie Frye QB

Thomas Howard LB

Kirk Morrison LB

Stanford Routt CB

San Diego

Tim Dobbins LB

Malcolm Floyd WR

Antonio Garay DT

Eric Ghiaciuc C

Marques Harris LB

Vincent Jackson WR

Travis Johnson DT

Marcus McNeill OT

Shawne Merriman LB

Darren Sproles RB

Charlie Whitehurst QB