AFC Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Texans

New Texans RB Mark Ingram said it was unfortunate to get cut by the Ravens this offseason but feels that he’s been able to stay healthy and feels “super explosive” going into 2021. 

“Yeah, that was bad how that ended,” Ingram said, via Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk790. “It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t ideal for how I wanted that season to go or how I thought my season would go and for me to be able to help my team in the playoffs and just winning. It was tough, but the blessing in disguise was that my body, I feel super healthy. I feel super explosive. I’m springy right now. I feel like I’m going into this offseason heathier than I have in the past few offseasons. Just my body feels great.”

Ingram reiterated that his “body feels great” and still believes his “best football” is ahead. 

“I’ve been training, I’ve been working and my body feels great. I’m running around good and moving good, so I’m just excited I can get a great, strong offseason of working and training and taking care of my body to put my best foot forward. I still feel like I can play my best football. I feel like my best football is still ahead of me. Unless you look at my birth certificate, you can’t tell that I’m 31 years old by the way I play, by the way I run, by the way I move. I feel like my game still has a lot left in the tank and I’m excited to go out there and prove that.”

Texans RBs coach Danny Barret called Ingram a “natural leader” around the locker room and has been able to quickly voice his opinion to players. 

“He’s a leader, a natural leader,” Barrett said. “Just his ability to be around the guys and talk about things from his experience, that’s one of the first things that we talked about from day one, from your experience what does it take in a room like this. He voiced his opinion about some things, and everybody was in agreement and vice versa. Everybody kind of brought something to the table like that, but I think that’s the key for himself in his career right now being a leader, but also he’s a guy that’s going to work hard each and every day.”

Ingram added that he’s excited to play alongside fellow Texans’ RBs David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay. 

“Being a part of the backfield with David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay, I’m excited about that opportunity,” Ingram said. “The more backs that you have that can be great and excel in many different ways – I appreciate their games. I’ve been a fan of David Johnson and I told him that. I’ve been a fan of Phillip Lindsay and I told him that. I admire the way they play the game a lot. I admire their professionalism and I think all of us have played the game at the highest level in this league. For us to be able to compete and make each other better, but most importantly make our team better, is nothing but an advantage for us.”

Titans

New Falcons HC Arthur Smith recently told Cris Collinsworth on his podcast that he’s “grateful” for his time under Titans HC Mike Vrabel.

“I will always be very loyal and grateful for Mike Vrabel,” Smith said, via TitansWire. “There were a lot of lessons learned, and I can’t say enough about Mike Vrabel’s leadership at that time… I got to experience a lot and came out the other side.”

Smith continued, saying things “clicked” for the Titans offense when QB Ryan Tannehill took over, while also giving praise for RB Derrick Henry.

“When he took over, it just clicked,” Smith proclaimed. “What we wanted to do really fit his skillset. And really Derrick, it was a practicality. Derrick is the outlier. The number of carries he had, and when he gets going, it’s impressive to watch. So, it all kind of gelled together.”