Every NFL team has played at least one preseason game now, so it’s time to take stock and spotlight the biggest emerging storylines across the league. Here’s the latest on every AFC West team.
Starting with the Hall of Fame Game and continuing with a full slate of preseason games last Thursday through Saturday, NFL fans got their first taste of live action since the Super Bowl.
And if third-string quarterbacks balling out is what gets one revved up for the season, then the start of preseason play delivered in a big way.
While most of the league’s stars are mere spectators this time of year, there is still plenty to evaluate and learn from these games — and also the continuing developments from training camps heading into the second week of exhibitions.
As we go division by division, let’s dive into the top performances and most compelling storylines from every AFC West team.
Denver Broncos
Week 1 Preseason Result: 27-7 W over Atlanta Falcons on Friday
Top Performer: Linebacker Red Murdock
Red Murdock has a few distinctions of note.
First, just an all-time great name for a linebacker, c’mon. (OK, his real first name is Khalil, but he goes by Red.)
Second, while starring at Buffalo he became the NCAA FBS all-time leader in career forced fumbles with 17 (compiled over three seasons), breaking the mark set by a former Buffalo Bulls standout and future NFL star Khalil Mack. The two-time first-team All-MAC linebacker totaled 298 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in his final two college seasons.
And third, Murdock was the 2026 NFL’s Draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 257th and final overall pick.
That spot has worked out before — 49ers QB Brock Purdy and former Chiefs kicker and 14-year NFL veteran overall Ryan Succop are the two most notable.
But all of that just the backdrop to what Murdock is doing in Broncos camp — or trying to do in pushing for a roster spot.
After making noise throughout the month, he maximized a heavy snap count in the first preseason game to lead the Broncos with 9 tackles (4 solo) while no one else on the defense had more than 5.
Beyond the stats, he passed the eye test — shedding blockers and excellent closing speed to the ball.
“He was a smart football player [in college] that punched the ball out a lot, and we’ve seen it in practice,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said this week, according to the AP. “To be a Mike backer in this league, it’s more than your physical traits; it’s your mind. That part he has. Now we have to use his mind to make more plays.”
The unofficial depth chart on the Broncos’ team site presently lists Murdock as one of the third-string inside linebackers.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: Rookie running back Jonah Coleman standing out for Broncos
Murdock isn’t the only Day 3 draft pick that looks to be paying off for Denver.
Running back Jonah Coleman, taken in the fourth round (108th overall) out of Washington, has seemingly solidified a place on the depth chart and in the RB rotation.
Coach Sean Payton acknowledged as much after limiting Coleman to just 12 snaps in the preseason opener (4 carries for 24 yards) — all in the first quarter.
“I kind of felt it … and there was a point when he got like two or three carries and I’m like, ‘All right, I’ve seen enough,'” Payton said, per ESPN. “I didn’t need additional evidence of what I’ve been seeing for three weeks.”
It remains to be seen how exactly the unit shakes out behind veteran starter J.K. Dobbins, with second-year back RJ Harvey (540 rushing yards and 7 TDs on 3.7 yards per carry with 47 catches for 356 yards and 5 TDs as a rookie) and Jaleel McLaughlin (1,093 rushing yards on 4.8 YPC in 41 games over three seasons for Denver) also on the roster — for now. McLaughlin is now considered a likely candidate to get edged out after final roster cuts.
Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1 Preseason Result: 20-12 L to Los Angeles Rams on Saturday
Top Performer: Running back Emmett Johnson
The Chiefs overhauled their plodding, stuck-in-the-mud rushing attack after a dismal 2025 season, investing heavily to sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III away from the Seahawks on a three-year, $43.05-million free agent deal.
Meanwhile, they also grabbed a great draft value on Emmett Johnson late in the fifth round (pick No. 161 overall). All 5-foot-11, 200-pound Johnson did last season at Nebraska was rush for 1,451 yards (ranking fourth nationally with 120.92 yards per game) on 5.8 yards per carry in the Big Ten, catch 46 passes for 370 yards and score 15 total TDs.
And in his preseason debut Saturday, he did more of the same — rushing 12 times for 59 yards (4.9 YPC) and catching all 3 targets for 10 yards.
Walker was at his best in Seattle when splitting the workload with former backfield mate Zach Charbonnet. Johnson could be the perfect pairing for Walker in Kansas City, which also has former Cardinals RB Emari Demercado on a cheap one-year deal.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: Rookie cornerback looking the part as expected while rookie offensive lineman among NFL’s biggest preseason surprises.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane, the 6th overall pick and appointed replacement for former star corner Trent McDuffie (who was traded to the Rams), didn’t go through his first full practice of camp until Monday after getting in limited work while nursing a left shoulder injury.
But that isn’t expected to hold him back — frankly, the Chiefs need him to be an immediate top corner after losing not only McDuffie via trade but fellow starter Jaylen Watson to the Rams in free agency.
L’Jarius Sneed, a starter for the Chiefs his first four NFL season from 2020 to 2023 before playing the last two season with the Titans, is the expected other starting outside corner with 2025 third-round pick Nohl Williams in the mix there as well after making 5 starts and playing all 17 games as a rookie. Sneed was limited to just 12 games total the last two seasons by injuries.
More to the point, though, Delane hasn’t looked like a rookie who has been limited most of camp. It looks like the Chiefs hit on a good one with the LSU All-American.
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The Chiefs made the decision to release starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor in March in a move that saved considerable but also brought a perhaps needed reset to the line as Taylor had been an often-times-frustrating player with his penchant for penalties.
But that put a lot of pressure on sixth-year pro Jaylon Moore, a backup for most of his time in the league with the 49ers and then last season in Kansas City (playing 427 snaps as the Chiefs’ swing tackle), as the expected starter.
Well, Moore is facing even more pressure from an external source now too as undrafted rookie Khalil Benson (from national champion Indiana), who has created a bit of a competition at right tackle. Benson also slid inside to guard to get some work with two-time Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith missing some practices.
The Chiefs have also gotten Moore some work at left tackle (which will be manned again by 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons) and at right guard playing next to Benson.
However it shakes out, Benson is one of the great stories of the preseason. He was somehow an overlooked 6-foot-6, 319-pound starter on a national championship team who wasn’t even immediately signed after the draft, needing an invite to Kansas City’s rookie minicamp (with zero guarantees) just to get a look in the NFL.
Now, at worst, he projects as a key reserve or rotation lineman for a potential Super Bowl contender.
“He’s learning,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, per the AP. “Very strong, powerful, good feet, good athletic ability. And he’s working at it — the consistency part, scheme-wise — so physically he’s got all the tools there. So we’ll just keep working at it and see where it goes.”
Las Vegas Raiders
Week 1 Preseason Result: 27-14 L to Arizona Cardinals on Thursday
Top Performer: Running back Mike Washington Jr.
Mike Washington Jr., the No. 122 overall selection (late fourth round) out of Arkansas, looked in the moment like one of the best value picks in the draft this year after putting up a 1,000-yard rushing season on 6.4 yards per carry in the SEC and then blazing through the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash to lead all running backs at the event.
It’s only one preseason game, but the early results only further that opinion.
Washington had 63 yards on 6 carries in his unofficial Raiders debut, with the bulk of that coming on a 53-yard run.
Here’s another angle that really shows the field vision and elusiveness to turn a decent opening into a field-flipping gain.
Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is the clear RB1 in Las Vegas, but don’t be surprised if Washington breaks some big plays as a high-upside RB2 this year.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: Rookie wide receiver Malik Benson poised to make an impact
We’re leaving aside the quarterback matter, as certainly the primary intrigue for Raiders fans here is No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza’s progress and when he might get his shot as a rookie after opening the season behind veteran Kirk Cousins.
Frankly, there’s just nothing new to say on it, beyond noting Mendoza’s encouraging preseason debut last week in which he completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs.
But as for other matters, one of the biggest developments of camp for the Raiders was rookie wide receiver Malik Benson’s emergence.
Along with the Dolphins, the Raiders looked to have one of the two thinnest/worst WR corps in the league with Tre Tucker and free agent signing Jalen Nailor (the Vikings’ WR3 last year) the most proven options on the depth chart.
Benson was a bit of an afterthought as a sixth-round pick (No. 195 overall) after bouncing around college football from Alabama to Florida State to Oregon the last three years, posting career-highs with the Ducks with 43 catches for 719 yards and 6 TDs.
That may no longer be the case, though.
While Benson had a modest 2 catches for 26 yards in the preseason opener, he’s generated steady buzz throughout camp and could challenge 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech (20 catches for 224 yards and 0 TDs in 16 games as a rookie) for the WR3 role.
Los Angeles Chargers
Week 1 Preseason Result: 27-7 W over Houston Texans on Thursday
Top Performers: Quarterback DJ Uiagalalei and running back Amar Johnson
DJ Uiagalalei‘s much-hyped college football career fizzled majorly as he bounced from Clemson to Oregon State to a frustrating final season at Florida State, but his cannon of an arm, size and mobility were enough to warrant a fresh look in the NFL.
The hometown Chargers picked him up last season as an undrafted free agent and stashed him on the practice squad. It’s likely he could be headed for the same fate this year, with Trey Lance returning as the backup to Justin Herbert.
But Uiagalalei at least seized the opportunity last week to put some impressive throws on tape (for the Chargers or the rest of the league to consider).
Replacing Lance, who was 12-of-20 passing for 164 yards, 0 TDs and an INT with 27 rushing yards, Uiagalelei completed 6 of 9 passes for 120 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs while leading the Chargers to touchdowns on the first two of his four offensive series.
His TD throw was a laser across his body rolling left into a tight window to Devonte Ross.
Prior to that, Uiagalelei led a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on his first series, passing for two key third-down conversions, including a swing pass to Johnson that went for 55 yards down to the 1.
Amar Johnson punched in the touchdown on the next play and finished with 17 yards and 2 scores on the ground plus 2 catches for 68 yards.
Johnson was undrafted out of South Dakota State last year and was released by the Packers last August despite a strong preseason. He’s in a tough spot again trying to make the Chargers, with Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal atop the depth chart.
But again, compiling more good film for the rest of the league to see could help Johnson’s chances of finding a more conducive opportunity elsewhere at some point.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: More injury setbacks to the offensive line
The most significant offseason narrative for the Chargers and Herbert (aside from his engagement to Madison Beer, of course) was the expectation that the star QB would finally have a functioning, healthy offensive line in 2026 after playing most of last season without starting tackles Rashawn Slater (torn patellar tendon in his left knee) and Joe Alt (right high-ankle sprain later reinjured leading to surgery) among other issues.
Well, Slater went down early in camp with an unspecified injury as coach Jim Harbaugh has remained mum on the details or severity.
And now new starting center Tyler Biadasz (signed to a three-year, $30-million contract this offseason) is out indefinitely after injuring his left ACL in joint practice against the 49ers when San Francisco’s Sebastian Valdez fell into his leg.
The Chargers have an obvious in-house option to fill in. They drafted Florida center Jake Slaughter at the end of the second round. Slaughter, a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree, was competing at left guard but is now the obvious replacement at center with no other more experienced option on the roster.
With Slaughter needed at center, that leaves Kayode Awosika as the likely left guard. Awosiki went undrafted in 2021 before spending most of the last five seasons on the practice squads of the Eagles and Lions before logging 287 snaps (mostly at left guard) for Detroit last year. Free agent addition Cole Strange (formerly a starter for the Dolphins and Patriots) is the new right guard.
Suddenly, the hopes for a reinvigorated Chargers O-line are looking much dimmer with a rookie taking over late at center (after competing at left guard throughout camp), a left guard with minimal actually game experience in five years in the league and a star left tackle hobbled again leading up to the season.
