The Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs all had notable injury and personnel updates on Wednesday, with a few familiar names drawing the most attention.
In Denver, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was seen in a walking boot after Week 3, but Sean Payton downplayed any concern. The Broncos head coach said the boot was only a precaution and added that Waddle practiced fully on Wednesday.
“He’s doing great,” Payton said, via BroncosWire. “ To be honest, you saw him in a boot, right?
I would just say this, and I normally don’t spend a lot of time on injuries, but you’d be amazed at how many players after a game you put a boot on them [as a precaution]. He practiced full today, so that’d be a good example.
We have to find a way to have him not walking through the parking lot and let you guys ask me questions on Wednesday about a boot.”
Payton also received backing behind the scenes after a rough Week 1 outing for offensive coordinator Davis Webb. A source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Payton “never wavered” in his confidence in Webb.
In Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh made it clear the Chargers’ 0-3 start has everybody looking inward. The head coach said the push to improve reaches from Justin Herbert to the coaching staff, including himself and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“Be better. Be better,” Harbaugh said.
“And that drives Justin, that drives me, that drives his position coach, that drives Mike [McDaniel], the coordinator. I mean, drives us all.
We want to be better. We got to be better.
We got to look at our scheme. We got to look at how we’re performing, how we’re doing things and who’s doing it.”
Kansas City had a few updates of its own. Andy Reid said left tackle Josh Simmons was the only player who did not practice Wednesday, and the coach said Simmons is still working back from a bulging disc in his lower back.
“He is making progress. He’s had a bulging disc in his (lower) back.
… He’s getting strong, which is important. Backs can be tricky,” Reid said, according to Nate Taylor.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo also discussed safety Chamarri Conner’s role after his return. Spagnuolo said the Chiefs had been leaning toward keeping Conner in one spot, but that plan may not be set in stone.
“We were on a course to keep Chamarri in one spot. I don’t know if we’re still there or not… Every year he’s been here… 27 keeps showing up and making plays. We’ll fit him in there, whether it’s safety or nickel in some packages,” Spagnuolo said, via Charles Goldman.
Offensively, Eric Bieniemy praised Xavier Worthy’s preparation and the way he’s contributing in the run game. The Chiefs coordinator also said the team wants to get more creative with the receiver.
“Xavier does a great job with his preparation… We’ve got to find a way to get more creative with him. He’s doing a hell of a job in the run game.
He’s blocking…. Those guys are not about numbers; they’re more concerned about the outcome of the game.
Our guys care more about W’s than personal stats,” Bieniemy said, via Goldman.
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