AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

• Stephen Holder of The Athletic notes that CB Kenny Moore‘s groin injury may be one to watch entering the season as he underwent an MRI on Monday to learn the extent of the injury. Veteran CB T.J. Carrie may be expected to fill in for Moore in the meantime.
• Colts HC Frank Reich said Moore will be sidelined “at least a week.” (Holder)
• Colts WR T.Y. Hilton and TE Trey Burton sat out Tuesday with rest days while CB Xavier Rhodes was out with an illness. (Andrew Walker)
• Colts 2019 second-round WR Parris Campbell dealt with a number of injuries as a rookie but is healthy and impressing so far in camp: “I’m able to play freely. No injuries, no setbacks. It’s fun to be out there again.” (Holder)
• Colts LB Anthony Walker said UDFA K Rodrigo Blankenship won the kicking competition the first two days, but K Chase McLaughlin won it Tuesday. (Joel Erickson)
• Walker noted Colts S Tavon Wilson has brought a veteran presence similar to former Colts S Mike Mitchell. (George Bremer)

Jaguars

Jaguars DT Timmy Jernigan has had a tumultuous offseason but says he is blessed to be back home in Jacksonville. With the retirements of defensive ends Aaron Lynch and Rodney Gunter, Jernigan will likely take on an increased role in the defense.

“If they need me to come in and be a heavy run guy, I can make that happen, I can do that,” Jernigan said, via Jacksonville.com. “If they need me to get to the quarterback, I feel like I have the ability to do both. All I need to really do is just prove to everyone that I’m ready for that.”

• Aaron Wilson reports the Jaguars worked out TE Matthew Wilkerson on Monday.  

Texans

The splits are dramatic for the Texans defense when DE J.J. Watt is on the field versus when he’s not. So one of Houston’s top goals in training camp this year is making sure Watt makes it through healthy, which is an added challenge given how rushed the ramp-up process is this year. Houston put on pads late last week and is set to open the regular season on September 10, so Watt has been a limited participant in practice in the hopes of keeping him healthy for Week 1. 

“It’s just a different year,” Texans Bill O’Brien said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “We basically have three weeks to the game. These guys that have played a lot of football for us they do get their work, some days in the weight room, just in the weight room, or some days a lot of work in the training room or out at practice. Every guy is a little bit unique. Obviously, J.J. has played a ton of football for us at a very high level. He’s on a different kind of plan. I’m not sure how much you’ll see him out there this week. He’ll be out there eventually, but he’s on a different type of plan just like a lot of different guys.”

• O’Brien expects Texans CB Gareon Conley to improve with a full offseason in the system: “He’s a good football player. He’s come in this year comfortable with what we’re doing. I think he’ll make a good jump in our system this year.” (Wilson)
• Texans FB Cullen Gillaspia and TE Kahale Warring are both working on the side through hamstring soreness and will continue to be ramped back up into practice. (Wilson)
• Texans DC Anthony Weaver is hoping a change of scenery and a fresh start can be good for new DT P.J. Hall: “P.J. Hall is a guy with all the physical attributes to be successful. That’s why he was drafted so high. We’re excited about him. He has work to do. We love what we see out of him.” (Wilson)

Titans

• Titans QB Ryan Tannehill missed practice on Monday, but HC Mike Vrabel said everything is good and he’s expected back Tuesday, per Jim Wyatt of the team website. 
• After a strange period when he didn’t report to camp for almost a week, Titans OLB Vic Beasley is working to get into the swing of things per his coach, Shane Bowen: “He’s working every day like everybody else. He’s trying to get himself ready to go. He’s here, he’s engaged. I’m glad he’s here and I can’t tell you when but I’m excited for him to get out there and see what he can do.” (Turron Davenport)
• Titans K Greg Joseph is the early leader in the kicking competition ahead of UDFA K Tucker McCann, who’s had a pair of ugly misses. (Wyatt)
• Titans WR Corey Davis admitted he dealt with his toe injury last season before having it fixed this offseason: “Obviously I was battling this injury, but everyone always has something they’re battling. … I feel great, ready to get back out there.” (Erik Bacharach)
• Davis appeared to take the team declining his fifth-year option in stride: “It wasn’t really a reaction worth talking about. (J-Rob) just told me what they were going to do. Handled it like a professional. … I’m just focused on doing what I can to help this team out.” (Bacharach)