AFC Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Colts

• Per the Athletic’s Zak Keefer, Colts DC Matt Eberflus has made it clear to former second-round CB Rock Ya-Sin that he has to earn the starting job in his pivotal third season: “We like where he is. He knows it’s open competition and what he’s gotta do and how he’s gotta do it.”
• Keefer writes the Colts re-signed veteran CB T.J. Carrie but he’s likely the primary backup for Kenny Moore in the slot.
• Other competition for Ya-Sin will come from Marvell Tell, who opted out of this past season but has good size at 6-2 and used his time off well, and Isaiah Rodgers, who made waves as a kick returner and has intriguing speed. 
• Ya-Sin isn’t the only Colts defender who faces a big year in 2021, as DE Ben Banogu faces a fork in the road with his time with the team. Eberflus pointed out DL Tyquan Lewis faced a similar challenge entering last season and responded: “We always talk about that third year, really being able to do that, and that’s where Ben is — he’s going to have to do that this year. I saw what Tyquan said (recently), about stay the course, be yourself, just work your tail off. That’s what Ben has to do. And it has to be done on the practice field.”
• Colts OC Marcus Brady says QB Carson Wentz hasn’t hesitated to offer feedback on the structure of the offense he’s coming into: “What I love about him is he’s very vocal in the meeting room, whether it’s his likes, his dislikes — he’s not one to be shy about what he doesn’t like, which I appreciate from a quarterback, because he’s the one out there trying to execute.”
• Brady mentioned Colts 2020 fourth-round QB Jacob Eason added 10 pounds of muscle and has shown more of a mental command of things during OTAs so far: “Physically, you always knew he could do it. You knew he was going to improve in those areas because of his arm talent, but mentally, you could tell that he took that next step, that he grew in that area.”

Texans

• Texans HC David Culley had high praised of veteran QB Tyrod Taylor after he re-earned the Bills’ starting quarterback role back in 2017 after being benched. Culley was Buffalo’s QBs coach at the time: “He’s a professional, through and through. The very next week he was back in the lineup and able to lead us to the playoffs.” (Aaron Wilson)
• Culley pointed out that Taylor has experience under himself and QBs coach Pep Hamilton: “He has a comfort level with us and we have a comfort level with him. He’s picked up stuff very well.” (Aaron Wilson)
• When asked about when Deshaun Watson would be the Week 1 starter, Taylor said he knows Watson personally but is “looking forward” to an opportunity to start: “I’ve been a fan of (Deshaun Watson) and know him personally, but the opportunity to be able to start here is something I look forward to.” (Aaron Reiss)

Titans

Titans CB Kristian Fulton said he feels good about where he stands heading into his second season.