The Broncos made a notable financial move with Ben Powers, and Sean Payton isn’t leaving much doubt about how Denver views the veteran guard.
Powers signed a renegotiated one-year deal worth $6 million, with $5 million fully guaranteed and as much as $2 million available through incentives. The revised contract includes a $4.65 million base salary, a $500,000 signing bonus, and $850,000 in per-game roster bonuses. Denver also clears $7.5 million in 2026 salary cap space, cutting Powers’ cap hit from $18.2 million to $10.6 million.
Payton was direct about where Powers fits. “We certainly see him as a starter.”
Denver also got a reassuring update on OLB Nik Bonitto, at least as much of one as Payton was willing to offer. On the injury, Payton said: “No update. He’ll be fine.”
Elsewhere in Denver, WR Jaylen Waddle had strong praise for Marvin Mims. “He’s very explosive.
I love watching him work. Love going out and just being in meetings and just picking his brain.
Marvin’s a big play just always waiting to happen.” And RB J.K.
Dobbins set a bold tone for 2026, saying: “I’m gonna be number one, and I’m gonna keep it there for the whole year. 17 games…This year, there won’t be any (injuries).”
In Los Angeles, the Chargers’ left guard battle is starting to take shape. Jim Harbaugh said G Kayode Awosika is out front because “He’s probably been the most consistent.”
He also said rookie Jake Slaughter is “way ahead of schedule” and firmly in the mix. Trey Pipkins, Trevor Penning, and Branson Taylor are also part of the competition, and Harbaugh said he plans to name a starter at left guard in the next ten practices.
He also made clear that Pipkins is one of the team’s five best offensive linemen.
The Chargers had one more note on the injury front, too: OLB Tuli Tuipulotu was working off to the side with a trainer on Tuesday while the team period was happening.
Kansas City got positive news on Xavier Worthy. Andy Reid said the receiver has a sprained shoulder, but expects Worthy and fifth-round WR Cyrus Allen back later this week.
Reid also sounded encouraged by a few young players, including UDFA OT Kahlil Benson and OL Jaylon Moore, saying: “Both of them can play. We’ve just got a young guy that we haven’t seen that has some talent… We’ll need all of them.
That’s how it goes.”
Chiefs RG Trey Smith also said Benson is pushing hard to improve, offering this advice: “You have to keep coming out here and pushing. You’re fighting through something every single day, but you go to sleep and know you’re coming back out here.”
On defense, George Karlaftis had praise for rookies R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods, saying: “They’re trying to do stuff the right way… You can tell they love football. That coupled with their natural raw abilities and their ability to take coaching, they’re going to be great players.” He also said Felix Anudike-Uzomah has been putting in serious work: “Felix is humming… He really wants this… He feels like this is his chance, and he wants to prove it.”
Reid had more to say about the offense as well. He believes RB Brashard Smith can handle what they need, with protection being the main point of emphasis: “Let’s see how he’s improved.
Protection being the big thing.” And he gave a strong assessment of first-round CB Mansoor Delane: “He’s a tough nut.
A lot of guys probably wouldn’t go out there & play with what he’s got, but he wants to be out there. He wants to learn.
… But we’ve got to keep him out of contact. Right now, that’s important until that thing heals up.”
In Las Vegas, Maxx Crosby reinforced where he stands with the franchise after being asked about his leadership with first-round QB Fernando Mendoza: “I’m a Raider to the core and I want to win more than anything.”
Albert Breer reported the Raiders have liked Mendoza’s early work, but the timing on when he takes over will depend on more than just his own readiness. The team wants the rest of the support system in place first, and that includes getting the offensive line settled. Right guard remains unsettled, with Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers competing for the job.
Breer also noted that sixth-round WR Malik Benson has been a pleasant surprise and could win a role in a receiver room that’s still pretty open. Other young Raiders who have drawn encouragement include DT Tonka Hemingway, fourth-round CB Jermod McCoy, and fifth-round CB Hezekiah Masses.
P A.J. Cole also described a different feel around new HC Klint Kubiak’s program, saying: “It does seem to feel different this time. And it really does seem to feel like we have a cohesive vision, a collective buy-in, and I think that the number of people swimming in the same direction is definitely in an all-time high.”
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Brock Bowers' Absence Just Put Raiders Fans On Edge
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What makes this one linger is the silence around it. The Raiders have not attached any official explanation to Bowers absence, and for a player whose workload has mattered so much to the offense, any missed practice naturally gets watched a little more closely as the week goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have A Tough Roster Call At Defensive End
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For a team sorting through the back end of the defensive line, that kind of showing can quickly complicate the numbers game. Johnson now looks like the type of player who forces the coaching staff to keep taking a harder look, especially when the Raiders are weighing production, versatility and who can earn a spot on the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]
Overlooked Raiders Just Gave The Coaching Staff Early Roster Answers
The Raiders preseason opener against the Cardinals turned up more than just the usual first-look takeaways for fans tracking the roster bubble. A few players who did not draw the loudest buzz still made their case in ways the coaching staff will notice, especially on the lines and in the middle of the defense. Charles Grant, Atonio Mafi and Caleb Rogers each stood out with their blocking work, while Treven Ma'ae, Greedy Vance Jr., Cody Lindenberg and Dalton Johnson chipped in with effective tackling and coverage snaps.
Tyler Duzansky also made a quiet push in the long-snapping battle, grading out ahead of his competition and adding another small but meaningful data point for a staff trying to sort through the back end of the roster. In a preseason setting, those kinds of contributions can matter just as much as the flash plays, because they help separate the players who are simply filling out camp bodies from the ones who are starting to build real trust. [Read more 🡒]