Dozens of eulogies written this offseason for Seahawks' defense

Veteran safety Ron Parker, who was released by K.C. in March but re-signed earlier this week following his release from the Falcons.

Denver Broncos: Dozens of eulogies were written this offseason for the Seahawks' defense -- which said goodbye to longtime stars Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor -- but Broncos head coach Vance Joseph isn't taking the unit lightly. "On defense, they've lost some front liners, but when you watch the tape, they look like Seattle," Joseph said. As for whether or not the presence of Earl Thomas -- who ended his holdout Wednesday and reported to the team -- will affect the Broncos' preparation, Joseph said it won't. "You're studying their defense, not just one player," he said, before praising Tedric Thompson as Thomas' replacement during the preseason.

Kansas City Chiefs: After overhauling their secondary this offseason, the Chiefs will be counting heavily on a familiar face who was brought back just a few days ago. Veteran safety Ron Parker, who was released by K.C. in March but re-signed earlier this week following his release from the Falcons, is expected to start Sunday against the Chargers. With Eric Berry (heel) uncertain to play and a slew of new pieces at cornerback -- Kendall Fuller, Orlando Scandrick, Tremon Smith, Charvarius Ward -- Parker is already taking on a major role. "When I came in the building the very first day, I had the young guys already asking me questions about the defense," Parker told the team's website with a laugh.

Los Angeles Chargers: How much can the Chargers expect from veteran Antonio Gates in Week 1 against the Chiefs? The 38-year-old practiced Wednesday after re-signing with the team on Sunday, and there should be targets available to him with Hunter Henry out for the season, assuming he gets on the field. "I want to know where he's at conditioning-wise," head coach Anthony Lynn said. "He's practicing today and we'll see." Chiefs head coach Andy Reid isn't ruling out Gates -- who has more catches (115), yards (1,431) and touchdowns (17) against Kansas City than any other team he's faced -- impacting Sunday's opener. "He knows how to take care of himself," Reid told Los Angeles media on a conference call.

Oakland Raiders: Jon Gruden's first game back as the head coach of the Raiders won't just come on "Monday Night Football" -- where he was an analyst for nine years -- but also against a former protege of his in the Rams' Sean McVay. Gruden, 55, gave McVay, now 32, his start as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Bucs in 2008, Gruden's last season in the NFL. The wunderkind then worked on Jay Gruden's staff in Washington for seven seasons before flying out of the gates as a rookie head coach in 2017, leading the Rams to an 11-5 record. "We gotta slow that rise," Jon Gruden told reporters of McVay, who has often been compared to Gruden for his mannerisms and youthful offensive mind. "He's been on fire. We have to douse those flames."