Colts
Part of the appeal of joining the Colts for QB Philip Rivers was the presence of HC Frank Reich and OC Nick Sirianni, who along with TE coach Jason Michael worked with Rivers for a few years with the Chargers. So while Rivers is still learning a new offense for the first time since entering the league, there’s a strong foundation of familiarity to help him hit the ground running in Indianapolis.
“The scheme, is very, very, very similar, I’d say 80%, at least,” Rivers said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “But the terminology has been tweaked, which, in some ways, is really good. Like you said, you get so used to things. This is one of the first offseasons in a while, where — and you always work on your game — but it was like, ‘Man, I was studying the drawings and the play sheets. Normally, I’m just working on a fundamental here or there, or trying to find a new wrinkle. That was good for me, just because it was similar concepts, I was relearning them with a new terminology, and then hammering home all the reads and how we did it. So being in a different environment, but with the same offense, it’s a new challenge. It’s reinvigorating.”
As far as how long Rivers will play, the 38-year-old says he’s taking it one year at a time. He has a job lined up with a high school in Alabama and has said he wants to coach his son, now in sixth grade, when he’s in high school. But he also says ideally that 2020 wouldn’t be his last season.
“I always tell you this — I try to be as candid as I can with you — I truly think it’s one year at a time,” he said. “I just think that’s the best approach. For one, it’s what my contract is. Two, it’s just the best approach. Every year, family, season, and the team will have a say after that. But if you said, ‘OK, in a perfect football world, what would hope happens?’ I sure hope this isn’t my last year playing here, that’s what I would tell you.”
Texans
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle broke down the contract of Texans’ G Senio Kelemete‘s one-year extension.
- Kelemete will earn a base salary of $1.3 million for each of the next two seasons. He will have a $2.3 million cap figure for 2020, a $500,000 signing bonus, and can earn up to $4.2 million in per game-active roster bonuses in 2021 at $262,500 per game.
- After meeting with the Texans, LB Brandon Marshall explained that Houston was essentially checking in on him: “I’m going back home today. I’m on the ready list. They just wanted to see if I was healthy.” (Josina Anderson)
- Aaron Reiss of The Athletic writes that while running backs Duke Johnson and David Johnson are both capable pass catchers, neither as excelled in a two-back set to this point in their respective careers.
- Reiss also lists Duke Johnson, DeAndre Carter, and Keke Coutee as the most likely options at kick returner for the Texans.
- As for TE Kahale Warring, Reiss says that he would have benefitted from reps in the preseason, and despite being a former third-round pick could end up getting cut since Darren Fells and Jordan Akins have the Texans top two right end spots locked down.
Titans
Titans WR Adam Humphries is happy to have QB Ryan Tannehill returning this season so that the two can continue to build off of their chemistry from last season.
“I was super excited when we signed Ryan back because I know the value of working with the same quarterback year after year,” Humphries said, via Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. “Just building that camaraderie, that relationship, that trust with your quarterback and knowing if he needs an outlet he has a guy in me who can be that guy or just a tight coverage throw, he’ll trust me to make the play or A.J. Brown to make the play. You build that over time. So, bringing Ryan back, I was excited. He’s been impressive in meetings and how quickly he has picked up on our offense. He has a really good grasp of it, so we can just continue to add things as we continue to go. I am excited to have him as our QB.”
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