AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

• Per the Athletic’s Zak Keefer, Colts TE Jack Doyle is in the concussion protocol and is unlikely to play Thursday night against the Titans. 
• Indianapolis could get WR T.Y. Hilton and DE Kemoko Turay back but it’s not a sure thing. Both will be monitored as the team has light practices this week. 

Jaguars

Jaguars sixth-round QB Jake Luton started his first game this past week and overall turned in a strong performance. The rookie threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another touchdown that nearly pulled Jacksonville even with the Texans before a failed two-point conversion results in a 27-25 loss. 

“I would say I was more nervous for like my first practice this week,” Luton said via John Reid of the Florida Times-Union. “I felt confident and never overwhelmed at the moment.”

• Jaguars HC Doug Marrone says Luton will likely start again in Week 10 as QB Gardner Minshew (thumb) remains out. (John Oehser)
• While Jaguars second-round WR Laviska Shenault was ruled out Sunday with a hamstring injury, there’s a good chance he’ll be able to return this week against the Packers. (Ian Rapoport)

Texans

Despite a lot of speculation, Texans WR Will Fuller remained in Houston instead of taking a flight to Green Bay after the trade deadline last week. He made sure to show how important he is to the team with a five-catch, 100-yard, one-touchdown performance in a win against the Jaguars Sunday. Texans QB Deshaun Watson said afterward “it would’ve been hell” in the game without Fuller and the receiver said he felt the same way this week. 

“To be honest, it really sucked just being shopped around like that,” Fuller said via the Athletic’s Aaron Reiss. “Giving this organization my all, coming to work every day, very unselfish player, doing everything they asked, and then, just to be shopped around, I did feel a certain type of way. But I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to play with Deshaun and continue to try to get wins with this organization.”

• However, Reiss notes Fuller is playing well enough that he should command offers north of $15 million a year as a free agent in 2021. Because Houston already has WR Randall Cobb at $10.6 million against the cap next year, it might not be possible to re-sign Fuller. 
• Texans WR Brandin Cooks is set to count $12 million against the cap in 2021 but none of that is guaranteed. Reiss thinks Houston could rework that deal but it might not create enough room to keep all three of Fuller, Cooks and Cobb together going forward. 
• Texans interim HC Romeo Crennel says CB Bradley Roby will be back this week after missing the game against the Jaguars due to disciplinary reasons. (Reiss)
• Crennel added that’s a big help with how important Roby is to the defensive scheme: “Roby is a good cover guy. He’s been able to hold up against the opposing team’s better receiver this year. To have him back expands our game-plan opportunities.” (Mark Berman)
• Crennel expects to get G Max Scharping, OLB Whitney Mercilus and LB Dylan Cole back from the COVID-19 list this week, while it will be a little longer for OLB Jacob Martin. (Aaron Wilson)

Titans

• Per Titans Insider’s Terry McCormick, Titans HC Mike Vrabel said OLB Jadeveon Clowney is still dealing with a knee issue: “He wasn’t close enough to play yesterday. We’ll see how he is this week.”
• Titans TE MyCole Pruitt appears to have avoided a major knee injury after an MRI showed a more mild sprain. He’ll miss Thursday night’s game against the Colts but could be back relatively soon. (Tom Pelissero)