AFC Notes: Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Jaguars

On Sunday, the Jaguars made the decision to bench Mike Glennon in favor of Gardner Minshew. However, Jaguars HC Doug Marrone declined to name a starter for next week and said he plans to meet with the two of them before deciding. 

“As far as moving forward, I haven’t spoken to both guys so just out of respect for them, obviously I have in my mind what I want to do but I’m actually going to make sure I speak to them first, before I do something through the media,” Marrone said, via ESPN.com. “[Glennon] threw some good balls and we left some plays out there and he had some drops.

“I think it’s not on one person. I mean, I think everyone can see that. There’s a lot of things that we’ve got to keep working on and keep trying to improve upon. I don’t think it’s the one position right now that we can point to. I think we’ve just got to try to see whoever it is is whoever gives us the best chance to try to win a football game.”

Minshew said he’s not sure what will happen from here. 

“I don’t know,” Minshew said. “That’s not my call. I’m going to try the help the team score points, try to help the team get better any way I can. Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do, but obviously there’s nothing like being out there being under center.”

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter says it’s not a foregone conclusion the Jaguars move on from HC Doug Marrone, per Tyler Dunne. 
• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye adds he’s also heard something similar and believes the next general manager for the Jaguars will have a strong say. 
• SI.com’s John Shipley transcribed Schefter’s comments:  “There are some people around the league that believe he is actually garnering some support to stay on. Even though Jacksonville changed its general manager…there are some people that believe Marrone could be given a chance to stick on. We will see how this situation unfolds in the coming weeks.”

Texans

Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Bears that QB Deshaun Watson got hit on the “funny bone” in his elbow. 

“He got hit on the funny bone,” Crennel said, via Pro Football Talk. “You know how those funny bones in the elbow, they, boom, bang the nerve for a minute. But he came off and worked it around and got the feeling back, and so we put him back in the game.”

Regarding the decision to leave Watson in the game, Crennel explained they weren’t too worried about him. 

“This game is called football, and there are hard hits that occur in the game. When you’re at quarterback, you’re going to take some of them. We decided to leave him in the game and let him finish the game,” Crennel said, per Aaron Wilson. 

Watson said that he’s “good” and just wanted to finish out the game. 

“I’m good,” Watson said. “Yeah, I just had to come out for a play because I stayed on the ground, and yeah, that was pretty much it. I just wanted to finish out the game. There was nothing else to that, towards that, so that was really my decision.”

• Watson was asked about Cal McNair consulting with him on HC search: “We got to make decisions and go from there. It’s a lot of respect between me and Mr. McNair.” (Aaron Wilson)
• According to Crennel, RB David Johnson was a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The good news is that Crennel said Johnson will hopefully be back after five days and back for their next game. (Aaron Wilson)
• As for WR Brandin Cooks, Crennel said it was determined he would try to play, but his neck didn’t respond well enough as they hoped. (Aaron Wilson)

Titans

Per the Associated Press, Titans minority owner Susie Adams Smith has agreed to sell her share to allow Amy Adams Strunk to hold 50 percent of the stake in the team and continue to act as the controlling owner. 

“The Titans franchise has meant so much to me and my family over the 61 years of its existence,” Adams Strunk said in a statement. “With this transaction, we are pleased to ensure that the legacy started by my father will continue in our family. We are thrilled to make this commitment and will continue to invest in our team’s future growth and success. Our belief in what lies ahead for this team is unwavering and we are eager to see it unfold.”