ESPN’s group of AFC West reporters recently took a look at who was on the hottest seat in the division, among coaches, players, and executives. Although Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie‘s name came up a couple of times, the consensus seemed to be that Broncos coach Vance Joseph was the one most likely to be fired should he falter to early on this season.
Recently, our Zach Links asked readers which coach would be the first to be fired in 2018, and Joseph was a popular selection in the poll. Joseph was very nearly fired by John Elway after just one year following a disappointing 5-11 season in 2017, but his job was ultimately spared at the last minute. If new free agent acquisition Case Keenum doesn’t get things turned around in a hurry, there could be an early coaching change in Denver.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- In the Jets‘ suddenly crowded running backs room, Thomas Rawls is the “longest shot to make the roster”, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Isaiah Crowell is a lock to make the team, and Slater thinks Bilal Powell, Elijah McGuire, and Trenton Cannon are all in better position than Rawls.
- Bears guard Kyle Long says the team has “taken the training wheels off” for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and that he’s finally “going to be able to do some things creatively and get to showcase his skills”, according to Madeline Kenney of the Chicago Sun Times (Twitter link). Former Bears coach John Fox was often criticized for being overly conservative with Trubisky, and it sounds like Trubisky will finally get to let loose in 2018.
- In case you missed it, yesterday we took a look at the latest from the AFC East, with notes on the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets.