AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Raiders

Colts

Colts OC Nick Sirianni mentioned that backup QB Jacoby Brissett receiving first-team reps during training camp is an “invaluable” for them. 

“I think any time a guy gets a lot of reps, that’s huge for us as a team,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, yeah, we want Andrew out there, but when a guy is getting significant reps, getting the timing down with the receivers, the snap count, the cadence and the calls down with the center and the offensive line — I mean that’s invaluable.”

Colts LB Darius Leonard called Brissett a “great leader” and holds players accountable in practice. 

“(He’s a) great leader, man,” Leonard said. “… I’ve seen him in OTAs getting on vets. Usually if a vet messes up, anybody will just walk on by. But Jacoby won’t let a mistake walk by. So you see a leader on the field and off the field.”

Jaguars

Jaguars OC John DeFilippo says RB Leonard Fournette and the team’s running backs will see more action as receivers this season. 

“That’s a role that position needs to play,” DeFilippo said, via John Oehser of the team’s official site. 

DeFilippo explained that the Jaguars’ offense will have pass plays that are “extensions” of their rushing attack. 

“There are pass plays [in their scheme] that are extensions of your running game,” DeFilippo said. “If you throw that guy a wide route, it’s basically like tossing a football trying to circle the defense.”

Although DeFilippo said they will find “unique ways” of getting Fournette the ball, he stopped short of calling receivers out of the backfield a “huge piece” of their offense. 

“He has caught numerous balls each day in practice,” DeFilippo said. “I don’t want to say it’s going to be a huge piece of our offense, but that’s a credit to Leonard because we’re trying to find different, unique ways to get him the football – not just handing it to him.”

• According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, Jaguars’ first-round DE Josh Allen was the only rookie from the 2019 NFL Draft to avoid offset language in his contract. 
• Florio notes that the Jaguars routinely remove offset language from top-10 rookie contracts. 

Raiders

Raiders ILB Brandon Marshall called the team’s 2019 draft picks “mature” and praised their “demeanor and mindset“. 

“I would say that Mike Mayock and Jon (Gruden), they’ve done a great job of drafting because these rookies are actually mature,” Marshall said, via Josh Schrock of NBC Sports. “I’ve been around a lot of first-round picks, a lot of rookies and they are not as mature, they don’t work as hard, study as hard and they don’t have that same demeanor and mindset as these rookies, so I look at it where I think they can have big years, great years.” 

Raiders’ first-round DE Clelin Ferrell said he was not drafted to “wait” and earn a role. 

“They didn’t bring us in here to be no rookie,” Ferrell said. “And I don’t mean it from that sense, I just mean it from rookie can kind of get a connotation of — ‘you can sit in the back.’ You know, ‘wait your turn. You don’t got to step out in front and really show that you want to play.’ I consider myself just a first-year player. That’s all that it is.”

• The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes that Raiders OT Trent Brown has been having a massive (pun intended) impact during training camp so far.
• The 6-9, 385 pound Brown has been dominating at right tackle after the Raiders gave him around $4 million more per season than the next closest right tackle salary. 
• Former first-round CB Gareon Conley is relishing the chance to practice against new Raiders WR Antonio Brown: “Every time I get a chance to go, I’m going to try to go against him and always ask him questions about when he breaks, what he’s doing at the line, down the field, how he plays against (cornerbacks). It’s going to make me better.”
• Tafur notes fifth-round WR Hunter Renfrow has “dusted” WR Ryan Grant in the competition for slot receiver, though Brown is expected to play significant snaps there. 
• Per Tafur, Raiders DE Josh Mauro likely will start in the Raiders’ base defense. Meanwhile, DT Eddie Vanderdoes‘ chances at a roster spot were damaged when he sustained a concussion.
• Raiders QB Derek Carr bought a home in Las Vegas and will be neighbors with HC Jon Gruden when he moves in. (Tafur)