AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

• Colts HC Frank Reich was asked about a possible trade for Bears QB Nick Foles: “This is Carson’s team, first of all. We’re so excited to have him. We brought him here for one reason, and that’s to lead this team.” (Zak Keefer)
• According to Reich, G Quenton Nelson’s surgery went “as well as could be expected”: “No additional damage was found. He’s got an intensity about him — I can assure you that intensity hasn’t changed one bit.” (Zak Keefer)

Jaguars

• Jaguars WR Marvin Jones likes that first-round QB Trevor Lawrence is willing to throw him the deep ball in practice: “A lot of young cats don’t do that. He wants to be aggressive, and I do not mind.” (John Oehser)
• Jaguars OC Darrell Bevell says that Lawrence is still learning every day at this point: “For Trevor, every day is a learning process. There’s a lot of stuff on him right now. There’s going to be another (installation session) tonight and another one the next day. Once we end them, it will start to slow down.” (Oehser)
• Bevell stressed the importance of having a veteran like WR Jones: “It is really important to have that guy, particularly in terms of our receiver room being young. It’s like another coach in the receiver room. He’s able to be that voice. It’s invaluable to have a guy like that.” (Oehser)
• Jaguars HC Urban Meyer on second-round LT Walker Little: “He’s been better than I expected and I thought he was going to be really good.” (Mark Long)

Texans

• Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says Texans GM Nick Caserio doesn’t want to solicit and take the best offer for QB Deshaun Watson right now because he’s petrified of not getting enough back in a trade. 
• Florio adds for now it’s pretty clear the Texans have put Watson on de facto paid leave while waiting for a trade or for the NFL to put Watson on the commissioner’s exempt list. 
• Aaron Wilson reports Watson was not at practice for a second consecutive day after having a minor foot injury examined on Monday.
• Texans DC Lovie Smith had high praise for DT Maliek Collins: “He’s an athlete. He can rush the passer. He can stop the run.” (Wilson)
• Texans OC Tim Kelly commented on the power of LT Laremy Tunsil: “He’s a freak, really big, really strong. You really see how detailed he is in his individual technique, the way he prepares, how seriously he takes practice, it’s been really good for those younger guys to see.” (Wilson)
• Kelly also had good things to say about third-round QB Davis Mills: “You don’t see the panic mistakes anymore. Things are starting to slow down and he’s really starting to feel comfortable particularly when he’s in the pocket.” (Wilson)
• Kelly on new Texans WR Anthony Miller: “He’s a guy who’s incredibly competitive. You see the different catches he makes. He’s got good play strength. He’s got good size.” (Wilson)
• The Texans worked out veteran C Hroniss Grasu on Tuesday. (Wilson)

Titans

Titans’ DC Shane Bowen likes what he sees so far in terms of competition on the team’s defense in training camp.

“The energy, the competitiveness,” Bowen said, via Jim Wyatt of TenneseeTitans.com. “I think all these guys are battling right now in a lot of ways, in their positional groups, against the offense. I see improvement. The biggest thing for us is just the consistency. Guys are getting better. We see it by player, we see it by unit, we see it by position group. But being able to do it day in and day out, play in and play out, that is where we have to be able to take the next step.”

Bowen is also happy to have an experienced veteran like DE John Simon on the team, who will fit in with the Titans’ playoff culture. He also likes what he has seen from CB Janoris Jenkins since bringing him over from New Orleans in free agency.