The AFC’s camp storylines are already taking shape, and a few of them come with real intrigue before the pads even come on. From a rookie linebacker who’d rather stay out of the spotlight to a first-round quarterback still grinding through the playbook, there’s plenty happening across Denver, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Las Vegas.
In Denver, Broncos linebacker Red Murdock is heading into his rookie year with the kind of personality that fits the label he earned as the last player taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. His old high school coach at Fork Union Military Academy, Frank Arritt, described him as someone who has never been drawn to attention.
“Red is a very reserved person,” Arritt said, via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. “He doesn’t like too much of a big deal to be made about him, and that just kind of speaks to his character. … He’s a very humble person, and he doesn’t like much outside attention.”
That tracks with how Murdock handled being honored at the Los Angeles Angels’ game on June 26, when he wore a jersey that read, “No. 257.” Murdock said the whole thing made him uncomfortable and that he prefers a “low profile.”
“That’s not really my cup of tea,” Murdock said. “That’s the whole thing.
I’d rather like keep a lower profile. … I wasn’t really too fond of the whole Angels game to have me be front and center like against my will.
It just seems like I didn’t really want to do that.”
What Murdock does want is a chance to prove himself every day once camp gets rolling. He said his focus is on growth and on enjoying the work.
“I want to show my best stuff every day and continue to get better,” Murdock said. “If my best self has me being the starting linebacker and first-team All-Pro or if it has me cut, I find joy in the process of being the best person I can be.”
The Broncos also have some injury-related uncertainty elsewhere. Per Chris Tomasson, offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo is expected to stay on the PUP list when the season opens, with the team treating his ACL recovery on a month-to-month basis.
And on linebacker Jonathon Cooper, head coach Sean Payton said he isn’t worried about the situation becoming a distraction. Payton said the team is following league guidelines and expects it to be resolved sooner rather than later.
Over with the Chargers, Kris Rhim of ESPN highlighted six players worth watching in camp, and the list is packed with guys trying to force their way into bigger roles. Derius Davis is one of them, with sources in Los Angeles reportedly excited about what he can bring as a return specialist and receiver. Rhim says camp is a key opportunity for Davis to show he can become a “difference maker.”
Daiyan Henley is in a different spot, entering the final year of his contract. Rhim writes that this season and camp could help Henley “solidify himself” as the Chargers’ inside linebacker or position him for a bigger payday somewhere else.
Quentin Johnston also has work to do. With Tre’ Harris entering his second year and Ladd McConkey already established as the team’s No. 1 target, Johnston has to prove he can be a reliable week-to-week threat on the outside.
There’s also the contract angle with edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, who still hasn’t finalized an extension. Rhim notes that missing camp would make things tougher, especially with Los Angeles installing a new defense under Chris O’Leary.
Second-round guard Jake Slaughter is another name to watch. The Chargers plan to play him at left guard, and one evaluator believes he’ll fit there after playing center in college. He’ll compete with Kayode Awosika, Trey Pipkins III and Trevor Penning for the job.
Junior Colson rounds out the group. After missing all of last season with a shoulder injury, he has to show he belongs. Rhim sees a path where Colson plays well enough to earn a starting role or ends up battling for one of the final roster spots.
In Kansas City, first-round cornerback Mansoor Delane says his shoulder injury is improving and that his main challenge right now is balancing his natural aggression with the need to stay smart in camp.
“It’s good, just getting better every day. Biggest thing right now is just getting my feet under me, acclimating to the conditioning,” Delane said, via Pro Football Talk.
“That’s something that’s going to be hard for me to turn down, my aggression, but you’ve got to be smart. In the NFL, you’ve got to protect your teammates.
That’s the most important thing.”
The bigger Chiefs news came off the field. Per Nate Taylor, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has left the team to support his wife after she was shot by one of their sons at their home in Virginia. Andy Reid said there is no timetable for Bieniemy’s return, and pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will handle OC duties for now.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have their own rookie contract wrinkle. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the second-to-last first-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft to sign, and the delay appears tied to the signing bonus structure. Joel Corry of CBS Sports noted that Las Vegas has not been paying first-round signing bonuses in a lump sum the way other teams do, and USA Today’s Tyler Dragon confirmed the holdup was related to the payment schedule.
Mendoza also spoke about where he stands on the field. He said he feels more comfortable, but he knows there’s still a long way to go, especially with the playbook.
“I still have a long way to go. I feel more comfortable, but I’m nowhere near where I need to be, especially with learning the playbook.
I still need to go a lot longer and attack the playbook harder. I’m still ways away.”
Las Vegas is also adding to its football operations staff, with Seth Walder reporting the Raiders are hiring Tom Henehan as a Football Data Science Assistant.
And the quarterback depth chart is already clear for camp. Klint Kubiak said veteran Kirk Cousins will open as the starter when practice begins.
“When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy and he’s going to get a ton of reps.
He deserves them because he’s played really good football. But I want Fernando and I want Aidan to push him.”
Kubiak also said Maxx Crosby will get all the first-team reps tomorrow and is ready to practice. On fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy, Kubiak said the team plans to get him reps early and see how he responds, adding that “it is a moving target with him….he’s ready to practice tomorrow.”
In Other News...
Chargers Fans Werent Expecting This Joey Bosa Career Twist
Joey Bosas latest career chapter has already taken an unexpected turn for Chargers fans to process. After being cut by Los Angeles and landing a one-year deal with Buffalo, the veteran defensive end gave the Bills a full season of work in 2025, finishing with 15 games and a solid defensive line of tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles and pass deflections.
Now the conversation around Bosa is drifting beyond a simple next-team question. ESPNs Adam Schefter has raised the possibility that the former Chargers star may be at the end of the road, while Nick Bosa recently played down any immediate buzz about a San Francisco reunion and suggested his brother would need to get back to training first if that ever became real. For now, the intrigue is less about where Joey Bosa goes next and more about whether there is another stop left at all. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans Are Mourning A Franchise Name From A Painful Era
Billy Ray Smith Jr., one of the more recognizable defenders from the Chargers San Diego years, has died at 64 after a battle with dementia that his family linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The familys statement reflected both grief and gratitude, remembering his football career and the second act he built in sports broadcasting after his playing days.
Smiths name still carries weight for longtime Chargers fans because of what he meant on the field and in the local sports scene afterward. His familys mention of dementia and CTE adds a painful layer to the memory of a player who was part of a different era for the franchise, one that still resonates with supporters who lived through it and continue to measure the cost of the game in more than wins and losses. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Camp Favorite Suddenly Faces Real Pressure In Year Two
KeAndre Lambert-Smith arrived in Los Angeles with some buzz after a strong senior season at Auburn and a fifth-round selection by the Chargers in the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Penn State and Auburn receiver signed a four-year deal and looked like the kind of young, versatile option who could carve out a role quickly, especially after showing enough in camp to get people talking.
The challenge now is turning that promise into something real in year two. Lambert-Smiths rookie season never really took off, and with the Chargers asking more of him this summer, the margin for error is shrinking fast. He has to show he can earn a steady role on offense after a first year that left plenty of questions unanswered. [Read more 🡒]