Bo Nix isn’t buying the idea that he’s the problem in Denver, and he made that clear when he addressed the Broncos’ early-season start.
The second-year quarterback pushed back on the notion that he’s playing scared or letting decision-making drag the team down. His answer centered on something simple: aggression only matters if it doesn’t turn into giveaways.
“Well, that’s honestly and truly the biggest battle right now because it’s like we want to be aggressive, want to be aggressive, want to be aggressive and then you see stats and see, well, this team is causing the most turnovers in the league,” Nix said, via NFL.com. “And then it’s like, well, OK, I can’t put my team in a position where I’m turning the football over and putting our defense in a bad spot and giving them a short field.
At the end of the day, it’s like, who cares? Why would I go out there worried about throwing an interception?
Why would I try to throw every football 50 yards down the field? Just play the play and if the play’s there, hit it.
And if it’s not there, check it down, throw it away, punt. Who cares?
I just have to remind myself not to play hero ball.”
Nix also pointed to the Broncos’ record and the fact that they’re still finding ways to win.
“We’re sitting here at 3-2 and we’re having a good start to our season,” Nix added. “There’s things we want to clean up, there’s things we want to fix.
We’re leaving some things out there on the field but we’re finding ways to win like we did last year. I feel strongly that we’re going to continue to do that, so the most important thing is winning, obviously.”
There’s also some optimism on Denver’s injury front. According to Mike Klis, the hope is that CB Patrick Surtain can return from an ankle injury next week, while S Talanoa Hufanga is unlikely to return for one more week.
In Kansas City, Andy Reid said the Chiefs had just one player sidelined from practice on Wednesday: WR Rashee Rice, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, per Nate Taylor.
Reid didn’t give a firm timetable when asked if Rice would practice this week. Instead, he left the door open for a longer absence.
“We’ll see… It could be a week, it could be two.” (Charles Goldman)
Reid also gave an update on DT Omarr Norman-Lott, who is working back from an ACL injury. The veteran coach said Norman-Lott is “getting close” and noted that he’s been active with the trainers.
“He is getting better. He’s working out with the trainers. He’s getting close.”
Over in Las Vegas, Kirk Cousins still looks set to keep the starting job despite Fernando Mendoza’s brief appearance in the Week 5 loss to the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Graziano reported that Cousins is not in any danger of being benched anytime soon, even after the first-round rookie got a cameo. He also said there have been internal talks about giving Ashton Jeanty a week off so the running back can recover from foot and ankle issues, especially with the Raiders not on bye until Week 13.
Raider HC Klint Kubiak said Jeanty is “starting to feel a lot better physically” and that the team plans to increase his work in practice.
“I’m excited about giving him even more reps in practice and more full-speed reps.” (Sam Warren)
Kubiak was even more direct when asked whether Jeanty would be available in Week 6.
“He’s playing.” (Warren)
Kubiak also said fourth-round CB Jermod McCoy can push for more playing time against fifth-round CB Hezekiah Masses and second-year CB Darien Porter.
“He certainly can. We’re counting on him.
We drafted him for a reason. More specifically, I see DP and Zeke fighting for who’s gonna start the game, and we know that everybody’s gonna play.”
(Warren)
In Other News...
Raiders Face A Big Fernando Mendoza Question At Wide Receiver
The Raiders have a quarterback picture that already invites questions, with Kirk Cousins in the starting role and rookie Fernando Mendoza viewed as the long-term answer. Even with that transition in mind, the bigger issue around the offense may be the lack of proven wide receiver help, a problem that has left the front office and observers looking for ways to add a legitimate target to the passing game.
One name that has surfaced in the conversation is a receiver who appears to have slipped in Jacksonville, which is exactly the kind of situation that can spark trade speculation this time of year. For Las Vegas, the appeal is obvious: if the Raiders want to make life easier for Cousins now and for Mendoza down the road, they may need to keep pushing on the market for a receiver who can change the shape of the room, even if the cost and fit remain unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Struggles Are Fueling A Quarterback Debate
The Raiders offensive problems have started to reach beyond the usual blame game, with the passing attack and ground game both undercutting any sense of rhythm. Kirk Cousins has had a hard time settling in when defenses turn up the pressure, and the recent stretch has only sharpened the conversation around how the team should handle the quarterback position as it moves forward.
Against that backdrop, Brock Purdy has begun to emerge as a name worth watching for a bigger role if the Raiders decide to change course in the weeks ahead. No official decision has been made, and the team still has time to sort through its options, but the broader issue is clear: the offense has not given the staff much reason to stand pat. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Catch Buffalo At The Perfect Time In Week 6
The Bills entered Week 6 with a long injury report, and the Raiders are looking at a matchup that could hinge on who is actually able to suit up. Buffalo listed 15 players, while Las Vegas had 12 of its own, setting up a meeting where health may matter almost as much as form. For a Raiders team trying to find an edge on the road, that is the kind of week that can quietly reshape the game plan before the teams ever kick off.
Wednesday practice only sharpened the uncertainty in Buffalo. DJ Moore and Ed Oliver were the only Bills players who did not participate, and both were already unavailable in the previous game, leaving their status something to monitor closely as the week unfolds. Las Vegas has its own questions, with Tonka Hemingway and Jalen Nailor in concussion protocol and their availability still up in the air, so this one may end up being decided as much by the injury report as by anything that happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]