Sean Payton had a clear message after Denver’s win over Jacksonville: the Broncos got better when the game tightened up, and Davis Webb deserved credit for helping steady things after a rough opener.
“There were a lot of things we all didn’t do well (in Week 1), starting with me, defensively, all of that, ” Payton said, via Broncos Wire. “ So it’s tough to go back to work, tough for Davis [Webb].
He responded the right way, the meetings, how he handled the schedule, and then the first half and all of that. You keep grinding at it.
Things really picked up in the second half, and that was important. We wanted to play this game a certain way.
I’m pleased that we were able to play that game, especially in the second half. We played it that way defensively in the first half.
We had opportunities, and we came away with just one field goal. The second half was much better.
”
In Los Angeles, the mood is a lot harsher after the Chargers slipped to 0-2, but Jim Harbaugh says nobody in the building is backing away from the work ahead.
“I’m not deterred. We’ll look at the tape.
We’ll go back to work. That’s all I know how to do,” Harbaugh told ESPN.
“No one in that locker room is deterred.”
Safety Derwin James was just as blunt about where things stand.
“We got to look each other in the eye, man, and just tell the truth, and just get better,” James said. “Because right now, that s- just looks trash. I’m angry, but being angry doesn’t fix anything.”
In Kansas City, Kenneth Walker has wasted no time becoming the engine of the offense. Through two games with the Chiefs, he leads the league in touches and yards from scrimmage, and Andy Reid says the workload isn’t a problem for Walker himself.
Reid said Walker is not pushing for fewer snaps, but the Chiefs expect rookie Emmett Johnson’s role to grow as the season goes on.
“Well, I think the way I look at it is … that’s part of the equation, but the other part is allowing Emmett to grow,” Reid said, via Pro Football Talk. “And so, I think Emmett will continue to get more snaps and then it’ll take a little bit of load, off Kenny, but he wants that ball. He wants a ball every play, Ken does, and he’s not asking to be relieved or anything else.”
In Other News...
Chargers Suddenly Face A Derwin James Problem They Can't Ignore
Derwin James is pushing through a fractured pinky finger and intends to keep playing the rest of the season in a cast, which immediately puts the Chargers in a familiar but uncomfortable spot. For a defense that leans heavily on James versatility and edge, even a hand injury can matter, and the team is already keeping a close eye on how it might affect his performance moving forward.
Elijah Moldens hamstring issue adds another layer to the equation, even if Los Angeles does have options behind him. Tony Jefferson and R.J. Mickens give the Chargers some safety depth, and the front office could look at veteran free agents if it feels the room needs more insurance, but James remains the player who changes the conversation the most. The question now is less whether he will play and more how much the injury will ask him to give. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Tight End Problem They Can't Ignore
The Chargers had to make a quick fix at tight end after injuries thinned the position group, adding Hayden Rucci off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. The move came after David Njoku and Charlie Kolar were placed on injured reserve, leaving Los Angeles suddenly short on depth at a spot that can matter just as much in protection as it does in the passing game.
Oronde Gadsden is now the only other healthy tight end on the active roster, which gives Rucci a fast track into a room with very little margin for error. He brings limited NFL experience, but he does at least know Mike McDaniels offensive system from his time with the Miami Dolphins, a detail that should help the Chargers get him up to speed sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Already Have A Week 2 Role Shift Fans Need To See
The Chargers were already sorting out their rotation by the time Week 2 arrived, and the adjustment showed up on both sides of the ball. With veterans Charlie Kolar and David Njoku dealing with injuries, Oronde Gadsden II has been pushed into a larger offensive role, while rookie Nick Barrett saw his defensive snaps jump as Dalvin Tomlinsons expected absence opened the door for more work.
RJ Mickens and Genesis Smith were also among the players who picked up more playing time as the coaching staff shuffled personnel to match the moment. For a team still early in the 2026 season, those changes matter because they can reveal which young players are moving from depth pieces to real parts of the weekly plan, and which matchups will force the Chargers to keep tweaking the formula. [Read more 🡒]