AFC Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Colts

Colts CB Xavier Rhodes explained what he brings to the team’s secondary as a cornerback. 

“Everyone knows I’m big. I’m a big, physical guy, and I like to get guys at the line of scrimmage,” Rhodes said, via Andrew Krammer of the team’s official site. “And I’m not only physical, I’m pretty fast, so I’m looking forward to just getting in the guy’s face and slowing the timing down, messing with the timing between the receiver and the quarterback and making the quarterback make tough throws and tough decisions.”

As for his experience with Colts safeties coach Alan Williams and CBs coach Jonathan Gannon, Rhodes believes his background with each coach in Minnesota will be a “key factor” to his success in 2020. 

“It’ll be a key factor, because those guys know the type of player I am and they know my strengths, and they’ve actually seen my work ethic and the things that really works for me,” Rhodes said. “So we’re going to work around that, and also they know how much of a professional I am and how much knowledge of the game I have. So they basically spoke to me and they look forward to me just being able to play my ball, play my style, and also coaching the young guys.”

Colts DC Matt Eberflus said he “fell in love” with Rhodes during the 2017 Pro Bowl when he was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach. 

Texans

• In an agent survey by the Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Texans were runaway favorites for having the worst offseason, specifically their trade of WR DeAndre Hopkins for RB David Johnson and a second-round pick: “That trade is still mind-boggling. Getting Hopkins for David Johnson? Um, yeah.”
• Multiple agents thought Texans HC Bill O’Brien had too much on his plate as the head coach and de facto general manager. One specifically mentioned it made O’Brien hard to negotiate with: “Bill O’Brien is probably in the tough category. Really, he just doesn’t know what he’s doing. No idea. He’s trying to be a head coach and GM and negotiator all at the same time.”
• NFL Media’s Marc Sessler picks Texans WR Brandin Cooks as his breakout candidate to make their first Pro Bowl in 2020. 
• Texans S Justin Reid said he would support any player who opts out of the 2020 season because of the pandemic but he doesn’t plan to sit out: “I’m 1,000 percent going to play.” (Mark Berman)

Titans

• Although Jim Wyatt of the team’s official site writes that he’s heard “some good things” about Titans’ UDFA WR Mason Kinsey, the rookie could face a harder time making their active roster given the current conditions of the NFL’s offseason.  
• As for Titans RB Derrick Henry‘s usage in 2020, Wyatt still expects Henry to be “heavily involved” but it would be wise to limit his carries in order to sustain production through the entire season. 
• NFL Media’s Marc Sessler picks Titans DT Jeffery Simmons as his breakout candidate to make their first Pro Bowl in 2020. 
• The Titans could still add a veteran backup quarterback if the training camp competition between Logan Woodside and seventh-round rookie Cole McDonald doesn’t go well. (Wyatt)