Chargers’ 0-6 slide sparks offensive rethink — AFC West roundup

There were no AFC West teams on the field yesterday, but it was still a busy news day for the division. The Chargers’ disastrous 0-6 start is forcing a hard look at their offense, the Raiders are tied to a high-profile suspension from Sunday’s game, and the undefeated Chiefs show up in an unexpected spot on the early Week 7 odds board.

Winless Chargers weighing changes on offense

Pro Football Rumors reports that the Los Angeles Chargers, off to a stunning 0-6 start in Jim Harbaugh’s third season, are considering offensive changes. The outlet notes that the unit has been a mess and that Justin Herbert was not playing well even before the team’s usual wave of injuries began knocking starters out of the lineup. With Los Angeles sitting at the bottom of the AFC West, there is little margin for error left.

On the personnel front, Pro Football Rumors also notes that wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who spent time on the Chargers’ practice squad after a short stint with the Cowboys, has now joined the Steelers’ practice squad. That move costs the Chargers a potential depth piece at receiver.

Raiders linked to suspension, tweak practice squad

In Las Vegas, the focus is on fallout from Sunday’s matchup with Buffalo. CBS Sports reports that the NFL has suspended Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game for spitting on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Pro Football Rumors adds that Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the game and that the league imposed the suspension after reviewing the incident. Bowers thus finds himself at the center of a disciplinary case impacting an opposing player.

Pro Football Rumors also notes that the Raiders have signed an offensive tackle to their practice squad, a modest depth move for a team sitting at 3-3 in a division still led by Kansas City.

Undefeated Chiefs as underdogs, Broncos riding recent win

At the top of the standings, the Chiefs are 5-0, but CBS Sports highlights a twist: early Week 7 betting lines have Kansas City listed as an underdog despite its perfect record. The specifics of the matchup aren’t detailed, but the number suggests oddsmakers are not assuming the Chiefs will stay unbeaten indefinitely.

As for Denver, Pro Football Rumors reports that Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo will miss time after suffering a shoulder injury in Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos. Denver didn’t play yesterday, but that recent win helps keep the 4-2 Broncos in the thick of the AFC West race.