AFC Notes: Gus Bradley, Aaron Rodgers, Colts, Jaguars, Jets

Colts

Indianapolis lost to Jacksonville in Week 5 in a game their defense allowed just under 500 yards. Colts HC Shane Steichen has faith in DC Gus Bradley to get that unit back on track after a rough start to the year.

“Gus has been doing this for a long time and he’s had incredible defenses where he’s been,” Steichen said, via JJ Stankevitz of the team’s website. “And I got the faith and trust in him to get this thing turned around.”

• Bradley admitted there’s been a point where it has felt they aren’t going to improve and it showed in Week 5’s loss to the Jaguars: “It is difficult. You want to play better. There was a point last week we weren’t getting better . . . and it showed.” (Mike Chappell)
• Colts RB Jonathan Taylor said the pain level of his high-ankle sprain has subsided: “[The] pain level has gone down tremendously.” (Joel Erickson)

Jaguars

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler write the Jaguars’ win against the Colts this past week gave HC Doug Pederson some much-needed breathing room, as otherwise they’d have been 0-5 and potentially in a must-win scenario against the Bears and Patriots in London the next two weeks. 
• With that being said, the pressure could easily ratchet back up with more losses, per ESPN. 
• Pederson mentions Week 7 as a possibility for CB Tyson Campbell after designating him to return from injured reserve, per John Shipley. 

Jets

The Jets came up short in their Week 5 London game where QB Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions including a pick-six. Rodgers knows he has to play better if they want to achieve their goals.

“You’ve just got to be honest with your performance every single week and hold yourself to a standard,” Rodgers said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “Obviously, that was below my standard. I’ve never thrown two picks in in the first quarter before, so that’s a first. One cost us seven and the other cost three. In a game we lose by six, plays like that are exponentially highlighted. So, three turnovers for me is definitely out of character and I’m disappointed.”