AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

The Colts selected QB Sam Ehlinger in the sixth round of the draft, but still have QB Jacob Eason as their backup after selecting him in the previous year’s draft. New Colts’ OC Marcus Brady is happy with what he has seen from Eason so far this offseason.

“I was very pleased with what I saw over the last few weeks with Jacob and where he is at,” Brady said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “Physically, you always knew that he could do it, that he had the potential that he was going to improve in those areas because of his arm talent and what he can provide out there. But mentally, you can tell that he took that next step, that he had grown in that area whether it’s making checks at the line, recognizing coverages, recognizing pressures. I thought he did a great job with that. Just the conversations that we were able to have that we weren’t maybe able to have last year because of the quarterback room – it really wasn’t for him to speak up as much, to where this year he is more involved. You can tell that he took control of the unit when he was out there and I thought he did a great job while he was here. We’re definitely excited (and) we want to see what he can do now. Yes, we are seeing the growth from last year to this year, but as coaches, we want to grow that trust with him and we want to see that in live-action. Looking forward to those opportunities, and he’s still got time as far as to prepare and get ready this offseason as well into training camp. But when he does get that live-action in preseason games, those are going to be huge reps for him.”

Eason says that with a different quarterback room and a year of experience under his belt, he feels like he has more confidence in the Colts’ offense.

“Completely different situation in the QB room and also being a year older, it’s great,” Eason says. “Having an idea of the offense, having a firm grasp of it going into camp is so much different in Year Two versus Year One. Getting the reps and just going out there and playing football, taking snaps under center, going through progressions – everything. It’s been a blast so far. I was learning the mental last year, but I wasn’t getting a lot of the reps. With understanding the mental and now getting the reps, I think those two together will help me be able to show these coaches and these guys some things that I can do.”

Jaguars

Jaguars HC Urban Meyer admitted in an interview with USA TODAY that the process of cutting players in the NFL has been an adjustment.

“That’s new to me. That’s the reality to the NFL, that you have 90 players,” Meyer said. “So to me, he’s one of 90. What’s the difference between him and the other 40 guys trying to make the team? To me, it’s all the same.”

“The reality is that a good percentage of your roster is going to get cut or transitioned out, which to me, that’s completely new. In college, you’d have your 85, 95 guys and you fit them in and you put the puzzle together. It’s much different here,” Meyer added.

Texans

• ESPN’s Sarah Barshop notes there are 49 new players on the Texans roster heading into 2021. 
• She adds that for 2021, there’s a decent chance Texans QB Deshaun Watson opens the season on the commissioner’s exempt list while his legal situation plays out.