Inside: A snapshot of the AFC West, where availability is top of mind for the Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers and Raiders.This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. AFC West PreviewI always appreciate that EA Sports’ “Madden” allows you to adjust injury frequency. I wish the NFL could do that for the AFC West.Last year was unfair.The Chargers lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater in training camp. Then-Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt missed 11 games due to injury. The Broncos were forced to play the AFC Championship Game without Bo Nix, while Patrick Mahomes ended the season on the Chiefs IR.The Raiders’ best players — tight end Brock Bowers and edge Maxx Crosby — dealt with nagging leg injuries, while stud left tackle Kolton Miller played just four games.I hope this season is different.Denver Broncos(14-3, lost in AFC Championship Game)Headline: Adding WR Jaylen Waddle. Denver’s offense needed an explosive, run-after-the-catch target in the middle of the field. In other words, they needed Waddle, who is already delivering in training camp.Subtle: Losing DL John Franklin-Myers. An underrated contributor, Franklin-Myers had the fifth-most sacks at his position in 2025 (eight, per PFF). His departure to Tennessee on a $21 million per-year deal makes veteran DL Malcolm Roach one of the most important Broncos this season.Question: How much time does Jonathon Cooper miss? The edge rusher’s status is uncertain after being arrested twice in June, with the NFL yet to levy any punishment. Cooper is currently practicing with the team and is a key member of Denver’s defense, starting all 17 games in each of the past three seasons and averaging nine sacks per year.Projection: 10-7. BetMGM projects 9.5 wins here, so I’m narrowly taking the over for one of the league’s best rosters. Denver finished 11-3 in one-score games while overachieving last season. That’s hard to repeat. Just ask the 2025 Chiefs.Los Angeles Chargers(11-6, lost in wild-card round)Headline: Mike McDaniel hired as OC. Voted the 10th-best offensive play caller by a handful of defensive coaches, McDaniel is an elite run game coordinator who built the Dolphins offense into a top-10 unit for two years. McDaniel is now paired with Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton. Look out.Subtle: Upgrade at center. “It’s hard to overstate the improvement the Chargers will experience at center,” per Daniel Popper, after they signed Tyler Biadasz, a top-10 player at his position. (To be clear, you might be an improvement. Former center Bradley Bozeman finished 40th among 40 qualifying centers in PFF grade).