DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos will watch running back Javonte Williams ' workload as he continues his comeback from a major knee injury that cost him most of last season.

They don't expect the Las Vegas Raiders to similarly ease the league's reigning rushing champion back into action after Josh Jacobs' protracted contract dispute kept him out most of the summer.

“I think he'll have the freshest legs on the field Sunday,” said Alex Singleton, the Broncos' leading tackler a year ago.

The AFC West foes kick off their seasons at Empower Field with the Broncos trying to snap a six-game losing streak to the Raiders. It's a skid many fans feel is more painful than Denver's 15-game losing streak to the Chiefs because, well, Kansas City is good, at least.

The Raiders have been bad for a while. They're coming off their fourth losing season in six years. The Broncos have been even worse, posting six straight losing seasons while churning through coaches and quarterbacks.

Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards last season. He didn’t want to play under the $10.1 million franchise tag, so he sat out until two weeks ago, when he and the Raiders finally agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $12 million.

Raiders coach Josh McDaniels indicated during training camp that Jacobs likely would receive a similar workload as last season, when he had nearly 400 touches between rushing and receiving. McDaniels also said a player needs practice time to get up to speed.

So, Sunday will show if two weeks was sufficient for Jacobs to get reacclimated to football and accustomed to QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who has replaced Derek Carr.

Garoppolo said Jacobs knows the offense “but just getting on the same page with him, a couple swing routes, check-down routes, things like that” is what the pair has been working on. “We're trying to get on the same page. With the run game I mean he's as good as they come, so it makes my job pretty easy.”

The Broncos are breaking in a new offense under new coach Sean Payton, whose dual mission is to resuscitate a franchise and rescue both Russell Wilson's career and the $245 million investment the team's owners made in way of a five-year extension before Wilson posted the worst season of his career in 2022.

Payton concurs with the notion you don't fix Wilson, you find him.

“And our job is to find him,” Payton said.

DRAMA IN THE DESERT

It's not all hugs and handshakes at Raiders headquarters. Defensive end Chandler Jones once again took to social media to criticize team officials, posting and then deleting Wednesday night that the club sent someone from the city of Las Vegas’ crisis response team to his home. He also threatened to publicize unspecified information on McDaniels if Jones doesn’t play Sunday.

Earlier in the week, Jones criticized McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, saying he was locked out of the team facility.

McDaniels was asked about Jones when he met with the media on Wednesday and called it a “private matter.”

STAGNANT SERIES

Payton's predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett, couldn't wrap his head around some of his players' hate of the Raiders last year. His indifference to the heated nature of the rivalry puzzled Broncos fans who have long loathed the Raiders, no matter if the silver and black were in Oakland, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

Payton didn't exactly embrace the rivalry, either.

“I think of rivalries as college football,” Payton said, who added, “Division games are important. The first goal is to find a way to win your division. You play your divisional opponents twice. I can’t speak for rivalries. I just think that exists a little bit more in the collegiate game, and I think division games are important, yes.”

JIMMY G READY TO GO

Garoppolo will be the first Raiders quarterback not named Derek Carr to open the season in a decade. Carr was the starter until he was benched with two games remaining last season. He subsequently was released before signing with the New Orleans Saints, where Carr is the starter.

Garoppolo most recently played for San Francisco, helping the 49ers reach two NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. He missed organized team activities and minicamp because of a broken foot suffered last season, leaving him with some catching up to do in training camp.

“It was a little different with the foot this offseason and getting that right,” Garoppolo said. “Just getting back into the right feel and things like that. You’re always trying to improve things, little details here and there, a certain route with a guy, timing on a route. There was a lot of that this offseason just being in a new offense and everything. But I feel like we’re in a good spot.”

Raiders hope newcomers help their defense make much-needed improvement

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Changes were coming to the Las Vegas Raiders defense, as Maxx Crosby knew back in January when he was cleaning out his locker.

“I expect there to be a big turnover,” he said at the time.

Changes certainly came, and the Raiders' depth chart for Sunday's season opener at the Denver Broncos reflects that.

Linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Marcus Peters and safety Marcus Epps are newcomers listed as starters. Tyree Wilson, drafted seventh overall this year, could start depending on whether Chandler Jones plays. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett is listed on the second team, but has been with the starters in practice when Las Vegas has operated out of the nickel defense.

“We’ve had competition at every spot,” coach Josh McDaniels said. “Feel like we have some depth on defense where we’re going to be able to play multiple people in there. They’ve really acclimated well to one another.”

If preseason practices and games were any indication, the new players should help the defense make noticeable improvement. But making plays, even in competitive scrimmages with other teams, is far different than doing it when the games begin to count.

“I like the guys that we have on our team,” Epps said. “I like the group we have in the secondary. Got a lot of trust in those guys, and I see what we’ve been bringing to the table every day in terms of work ethic and coming to work, and I like that about our group.”

Epps was one of the more notable offseason signings. He started all 17 games last season for the Philadelphia Eagles team that reached the Super Bowl. Epps made a career-high 92 tackles that season.

Peters was another veteran pickup, signing with Las Vegas on July 24 on the eve of camp. He is a two-time All-Pro player with 32 interceptions, six returned for touchdowns.

Spillane played all five of his seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting 16 games over the past three years.

Bennett, drafted in the fourth round this year out of Maryland, made an impact early in camp by showing an ability to make plays on the ball. It was clear then he would be part of this season's defensive plans.

“Jakorian is a great guy on and off the field,” cornerback Nate Hobbs said. “Super smart young guy. He doesn't have a ceiling. His ceiling is past his roof.”

And then there's Wilson, whose start with the Raiders was delayed by a foot injury from last season at Texas Tech. He didn't begin practicing until well into camp, but could get a big opportunity to play on Sunday.

Much of that depends on Jones' status. Jones, the listed starter at defensive end, twice this week on Instagram posted and then deleted criticisms of Raiders management.

McDaniels said no one will play 70 snaps, so Wilson likely will be eased into the season no matter what happens with Jones. No matter, Wilson said he's in outstanding physical and game shape even with all of his missed practice time.

“We work hard and we condition every day,” Wilson said. “So we've got to be the best at both.”

The Raiders drafted Wilson to address their anemic pass rush. Even with Crosby, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season, Las Vegas as a team was 30th in the NFL with 27.

It was far from the only area in which the defense did not measure up well. Las Vegas also was 28th in total defense (365.6-yard average), 26th in scoring defense (24.6-point average) and tied for last with the New Orleans Saints with an 0.8 takeaways average.

So to say there was room for improvement was an understatement. Thus the infusion of new players.

“A lot of young guys who have got the potential to be great,” Hobbs said.

Crosby knew changes were coming. And they certainly came.

But whether the Raiders defense is actually significantly improved is another question.

Sunday will be the first true indication.

“We haven't played in a real game yet together, so we're super excited,” Crosby said this week. “We're focused on the week, getting prepared for the game and doing our absolute best. Marcus, Spillane, all those guys have (brought) great energy every single day and work their (butt) off, so that's really all you can ask for. The guys have been incredible since they got in here.”

Chandler Jones again posts, then deletes criticism of Raiders' management

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones once again took to social media to criticize team officials, posting and then deleting Wednesday night that the club sent someone from the city of Las Vegas' crisis response team to his home.

Jones showed a picture on his Instagram account he said was the badge of the person at his door.

“Raiders sent her to my place said .. You need to come with us ‘You’re in danger,’” Jones wrote.

He also threatened to publicize unspecified information on Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels if Jones doesn't play Sunday when the Raiders open their season at the Denver Broncos.

This is the second time this week Jones took to Instagram to show his discontent. He also criticized McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler on Tuesday, saying he was locked out of the team facility. Jones also deleted that post.

“Now I understand why players turn to social media," Jones said in the post Wednesday that he later took down. “At first I frowned upon it. But it's our only outlet. If I didn't do this, it would've been kept under wraps..”

McDaniels was asked about Jones when he met with the media on Wednesday and called it a “private matter.”

“If there’s something to report on it, then we’ll do that,” McDaniels said. “But as of right now, no.”

McDaniels did say the situation was “day to day” and that Jones wasn't in the facility. Jones' status for the game at Denver was unclear.

“We're dealing with it internally,” McDaniels said.

If Jones doesn't play, Tyree Wilson is listed as his backup on the depth chart. The Raiders drafted Wilson seventh overall this year out of Texas Tech. Third-year pro Malcolm Koonce is another possibility.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-11) at DENVER BRONCOS (5-12)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, CBS

OPENING LINE: Broncos by 4, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 71-54-2.

LAST MEETING: Raiders beat Broncos 22-16 on Nov. 20, 2023, at Denver.

RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (17), PASS (11), SCORING (12).

RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (28), RUSH (19), PASS (29), SCORING (26).

BRONCOS OFFENSE: OVERALL (21), RUSH (21), PASS (19), SCORING (32).

BRONCOS DEFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (10), PASS (12), SCORING (T-14).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Raiders minus-8, Broncos minus-1.

RAIDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Josh Jacobs. He sat out training camp over a contract dispute, so how ready Jacobs is for the opener is a major question. Jacobs led the NFL in yards rushing (1,653) and yards from scrimmage (2,053) last year. With a combined 393 touches between rushing and receiving, the Raiders relied heavily on Jacobs last season. It’s possible coach Josh McDaniels eases him into the season, but Jacobs has had more success against the Broncos than any other team, rushing for 721 yards and nine touchdowns.

BRONCOS PLAYER TO WATCH: S Justin Simmons. Like Jacobs, Simmons missed lots of time in August but that was because he tweaked a groin and not because of a contract stalemate. When Simmons was sidelined, Russell Wilson and coach Sean Payton’s offense finally got going. Before that, he was posting daily interceptions and otherwise disrupting the offense’s ability to gel. Simmons tied for the league lead with six interceptions last season despite missing a month.

KEY MATCHUP: Raiders ground game versus Broncos run defense. The Broncos fortified their front seven in the offseason and the Raiders figure to have another elite rushing attack behind Jacobs, who will be the freshest player on the field Sunday no matter his snap count.

KEY INJURIES: Raiders: CB Brandon Facyson didn’t practice Wednesday because of an injured shin. He backs up starter Marcus Peters. If Facyson isn’t able to play, Amik Robertson likely will be Peters’ backup. … WR DeAndre Carter was limited in practice with a knee injury. Broncos: WR1 Jerry Jeudy, who pulled his right hamstring in a joint practice with the Rams last month and missed the final preseason tuneup, returned to the field Wednesday on a limited basis. If he plays it’s unlikely he’ll get as many snaps as usual. ... TE Chris Manhertz (chest) and CB Riley Moss, who’s recovering from abdominal surgery last month, also were limited.

SERIES NOTES: After wrapping up their time in Oakland with a 16-15 loss at Denver on Dec. 29, 2019, the Raiders have won six in a row over the Broncos. And they’ve won eight of the past nine matchups overall. That marks the Raiders’ best stretch against Denver since 1989-94, when they beat the Broncos 11 times in 12 meetings.

STATS AND STUFF: After six seasons in San Francisco, QB Jimmy Garoppolo rejoins Josh McDaniels. Garoppolo, who was Tom Brady’s backup when McDaniels was designing plays for the Patriots, brings a 40-17 record to Las Vegas as he replaces longtime QB Derek Carr. ... His next 100-yard receiving game will be Raiders WR Davante Adams’ 40th, the second most in the NFL since his rookie season in 2014. Only 12 other players have reached that mark in their first 10 seasons. … The Raiders’ six-game winning streak against Denver is their longest active one against any team. The next closest is a four-game winning streak against the Cleveland Browns. … DE Maxx Crosby has 37½ sacks, just one behind Derrick Burgess for seventh in Raiders history. … DE Chandler Jones has 112 sacks, one behind Sean Jones for 25th in NFL history. … K Daniel Carlson is three points away from 600. … CB Marcus Peters has 33 interceptions since his first season in 2015, the most in the league over that time. ... Sean Payton returns to the sideline after a year’s sabbatical in the Fox broadcast studio following a 15-year run with the New Orleans Saints. ... Broncos QB Russell Wilson ranks third in multi-touchdown games (95) since 2012. ... S Justin Simmons is the first player in team history to have multiple interceptions in each of his first seven seasons. ... ILB Alex Singleton’s 152 tackles in 2022 were the third most by a Broncos defender since 1994. ... Rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin, the NCAA’s all-time leader in rushing yards, led the league with four touchdowns in the preseason.

FANTASY TIP: It’s probably wise to stay away from the running backs in this one. There’s no telling how many chances Jacobs will get or how effective he’ll be after only recently reporting to the team following his protracted holdout. For the Broncos, Javonte Williams is coming off a serious left knee injury he suffered when Crosby tackled him in the Raiders’ Week 4 victory over Denver last season. He’s back but Payton will keep a close eye on his touches and he’ll share the running duties with Samaje Perine and rookie Jaleel McLaughlin.