AFC Notes: Colts, Patriots, Titans

Colts

• Regarding Colts’ backup QBs Jacob Eason and Chad Kelly‘s possibility of making the active roster, Andrew Walker of the team’s official site points out HC Frank Reich typically keeps two quarterbacks, which would obviously be Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett. 
• However, Walker expects Eason and Kelly to compete for a spot on the Colts’ practice squad. 
• Walker expects Colts’ UDFA TE Farrod Green to face a difficult time making the team given Jack Doyle and Trey Burton are at his position, plus TE Mo Alie-Cox has emerged as a blocker and pass-catching target.
• Walker mentions the Colts also signed FB Roosevelt Nix this offseason, which likely means Indianapolis will keep one less tight end on their roster. 
• Although Walker could see Colts’ fifth-round OL Danny Pinter competing for the starting right guard role, he writes that as of now, RG Mark Glowinski is set to continue with the first-team. 
• As for the possibility of the Colts’ re-signing free-agent DE Jabaal Sheard, Walker thinks the team has “reached a point” to where they want to examine their younger DEs like Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu.

Patriots

• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell points out that new Patriots QB Cam Newton appeared to be fully recovered from shoulder surgery entering the 2019 season before suffering a Lisfranc injury in the preseason — ironically against New England.
• Barnwell says a number of other quarterbacks have gone on to have success after a Lisfranc injury, so there’s room for optimism about Newton’s health entering 2020. 
• New England was already moving to more of a run-focused offense judging by its personnel moves this offseason, per Barnwell, and the addition of Newton adds more versatility to that. 
• The Patriots have been intrigued about potentially moving toward a more mobile quarterback and did a lot of homework on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson before the 2018 draft. (Michael Giardi)
• Patriots WR Mohamed Sanu was giddy and seemed re-energized by hearing the unexpected news of Newton’s signing: “I knew something was up when you called. This is crazy. I think it’s great. I mean it’s Cam Newton. He can help the team in so many ways. He’s a big powerful leader. All he has to do is go be Cam. He’s an MVP.” (Josina Anderson)

Titans

Despite being just a seventh-round pick, Titans rookie QB Cole McDonald will have the opportunity to compete for Tennessee’s backup quarterback job with young veteran Logan Woodside. One area McDonald will focus on improving is his release, which tends to loop and take longer than ideal. 

“I work on it every day. There’s nothing else to do. At any level, I feel like a person can always keep evolving, always keep pursuing and helping their game in any facet, physically and mentally,” McDonald said via Jim Wyatt of the team website. “I feel like it is all based on a person’s mindset. For me, I know it needs to be changed and it’s going to be changed. I’m going to be a better quarterback after it and help this team in any way that I can. For me, it’s just taking that and working on it every single day, fine-tune those muscles making it muscle memory and applying it at game time.”