AFC Notes: Jaguars, Patriots, Steelers

Jaguars

With the Jaguar set to play two games in London in 2020, players like DE Calais Campbell are trying to look on the bright side of effectively adding two road games to the schedule. Because the games are set for consecutive weekends, Campbell hopes Jacksonville might have the advantage of familiarity when “hosting” the second team.

“It’s one of those things where it’s gonna be tough,” Campbell said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “It’s gonna be a situation where you’re gonna be in a new place — we’ve been there before, we have some familiarity with it — it’s gonna be a little bit tougher. I hope that whoever those teams we play, we get an advantage over them.”

• Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post, formerly a Jaguars beat reporter, says unless Jacksonville undergoes major stadium renovations, expect two games in London to be the norm going forward despite team officials saying it’s just a one-year commitment right now. 

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports Patriots DE Derek Rivers is staying at the team facility this offseason to rehab. 
• Reiss doesn’t believe the Patriots will have a shot at Chargers TE Hunter Henry in free agency given Los Angeles can easily use the franchise tag on Henry. 
• That would leave Falcons TE Austin Hooper as the top free-agent option for New England potentially available. 

Texans

Texans LB Jacob Martin, who was acquired in the Jadeveon Clowney trade, says he’s hoping to show the team he can be an every-down player in 2020. 

“I think the biggest thing for me is focusing on my body, taking the time to transform my body into what it needs to be, what it takes for me to play every down,” Martin said, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Obviously, the goal is to get a whole lot stronger this offseason and try to build on what I started last year and continue to get better.”

“I think the future is very bright,” Martin added. “I think I have a lot more to prove. I have a lot more work to do, a lot more things to improve my game. I’m really excited for the offseason, excited for training camp and OTAs and stuff like that to get better.“