AFC Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Colts

The Colts and owner Jim Irsay have been trying to sign extensions with LB Darius Leonard and T Braden Smith before the start of the new season and now have a limited number of days to get the deals done.

“We don’t have anything to report right now, but we’d like to see both of those players get extensions before the season starts,” Irsay said Thursday, via Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star.

Irsay also says that the team wants to sign G Quenton Nelson to a long-term contract sooner rather than later.

“We’re working on it, and I think any time you deal with extensions — I’ve been dealing with them for decades — it takes two to tango, and there’s a compromising aspect,” Irsay said. “You sign early and get protection against injury, that guarantee, that sort of peace of mind, and the team gets the consideration of doing it early. We always give great deals to our players. It’s been that way going back 20 years. Extensions we’ve signed, and the players we’ve extended into second contracts is a long list, and they’ve always been done fairly, and tried to look at it from their point of view.”

• Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan says that CB T.J. Carrie is the clear-cut No. 3 cornerbacks for the Colts at this point, with players like Rock Ya-Sin, Marvell Tell, and Isaiah Rodgers all competing for the spot and playing time in the defensive backfield.

Texans

• Texans’ DT Maliek Collins on what he means to him to join a new organization: “I hope to bring some juice on the inside. I thought it was a great opportunity for a team trying to build, a team with a fresh start. Quite honestly I needed a fresh start, too, so it was the best place I could have picked.” (Aaron Wilson)

Titans

• Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com notes that senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz has been a resource for the defensive coaches in Tennesee but will still defer to DC Shane Bowen.
• Wyatt points out that while former wrestler G Adam Coon is big and athletic, he is still a work in progress and longshot to make the roster. Wyatt adds that Coon must work on his technique and could end up as a developmental prospect on the practice squad.
• As for QB Logan Woodside, Wyatt points out that the team has faith in him, or else he wouldn’t be one play away from being the backup for the Titans, who still view QB Ryan Tannehill as the future of the team despite his age.