AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

Colts HC Frank Reich said following the team’s first preseason game that both QB Sam Ehlinger and QB Jacob Eason had reasons to be proud following their first taste of live-game action.

“It was best-case scenario for them,” Reich said, via WishTV’s Olivia Ray. “If I’m them, I’m looking at the plays I messed up, but they should be proud.”

Despite adding QB Carson Wentz this offseason, who is currently shelved following surgery to repair a foot injury, Colts owner Jim Irsay says the team will likely opt to develop the quarterbacks they have on the roster, over acquiring another one via trade.

“I believe in developing our own,” he said, via NFL.com. “I think we’ll stay as is.”

It remains to be seen if Wentz will play in the opener, or if the Colts will elect to start the season with either Eason or Ehlinger at the helm.

“Carson Wentz’s foot surgery, first of all, went as well as it possibly could,” NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. “The fact that Wentz was out on the field without a boot, a couple days after surgery, is a very good sign. So there is optimism. And at least he’s got a shot, maybe an outside shot, but at least a shot at Week 1.”

Jaguars

• Jaguars’ HC Urban Meyer spoke about how his offense operated for the first preseason game: “I don’t like slow offenses. I don’t want to be one of those slow, wallowing offenses, and we’ll go and get that fixed. We’ve just got to get it and go, go, go, and emphasize that.” (John Oehser)
• Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence on his first preseason performance: “I felt good out there. I thought we were seeing it all on the same page and there are obviously things to clean up, but I thought it was a pretty good day…”
• Meyer commented on CB C.J. Henderson returning from COVID-19: “He’s getting back into game shape. COVID knocked the teeth out of him. He came back and started practicing well. We’ve got to get him revved up to game speed and game shape…”
• Jaguars’ DE Josh Allen on Henderson: “He is an important part of this team. He’s been out. For him just to go out there and make plays like that, I feel like we have a heck of a talented corner…”
• Allen on what type of success the team expects from DT DaVon Hamilton: “DaVon has the capabilities of being the best nose tackle in the whole NFL. We tell him that. Everybody tells him that. Everybody truly believes that he can be the best nose tackle, and I think he is…”

Texans

• Texans HC David Culley said he is hopeful WR Anthony Miller will return at some point this year. (Aaron Reiss)
• Culley mentioned OT Laremy Tunsil tested positive for COVID and will join OL Roderick Johnson and Tyus Howard on the COVID list. (Reiss)