Colts

The Colts signed veteran WR Keenan Allen to a one-year deal, reuniting him with his former offensive quality control coach with the Chargers from 2014 to 2020, Colts HC Shane Steichen. Allen praised Steichen and spoke about their relationship, as the two learned the game together in the early phases of their careers. 

“Shane’s my guy,” Allen said, via the team’s website. “We go way back to having that connection and familiarity. Just knowing Shane and being able to come in, plug and play.”

“The way he runs things, he’s a genius in himself. He sees (the game) from a player’s perspective.”

“Learning the game with Shane, through the coaches we had and just being able to have similar minds and understand the same type of football.”

Jaguars

Jacksonville extended DE Travon Walker this season, locking in their pass rush duo for the foreseeable future in him and Josh Hines-Allen. Coming off Walker’s $110 million contract, Hines-Allen had the utmost praise for his running mate because of his combination of size and quick-twitch ability.

“We’ve shown what we can do at a very high level. We’re both double-digit sack guys through and through. You know, we both can play the run extremely well,” Hines-Allen said, via an interview with Jordan Schultz. “Tray, you know, he has some of the most athletic traits, traits that I’ve ever seen. Somebody that can be as big as he is, as strong, as twitchy, and can change direction at a snap of a finger. There’s not a lot of guys in the league that can do that. And all the guys that can do that are very special. And Tray’s one of those guys.”

Hines-Allen is often asked to do a bit of everything because of his versatile skill set. Though other pass rushers might not love dropping into coverage, Hines-Allen is fully bought into doing whatever the team needs of him to help win games.

“I’ve been putting the league on notice for a very long time. And I think my peers recognize that,” Hines-Allen said. “And for me, my mindset is to come out and whoop somebody every play. And being able to do that in the run, in the pass, and even in coverage, you know, learning into, accepting that, like… who wants to drop into coverage, you know, especially when you get so much money? But in a scheme that you have to do it, you have to buy into what’s going on. So if I’m gonna drop in coverage, man, I’m gonna be, I’m gonna do the best job that I can do for my team. Because if I don’t do it, get beat to the flat, now that’s a 10, 15 yard, maybe a touchdown play that I just let up for my team. So really buying into all around being a great defensive player. I think Tray and I both are really honing into that and, you know, just trying to be the best that we can be on every level.”

• Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jaguars WR Parker Washington is expected to return to practice next week after missing this week with an undisclosed injury.

Texans

Though Houston added RB David Montgomery to be the lead back, HC DeMeco Ryans has loved what he’s seen out of second-year RB Woody Marks, specifically citing his route running.

“Woody has shown confidence back since OTAs,” Ryans said, via the Texans Wire. “Seeing him running the football, looking faster, quicker, but also in the passing game, excelling. He is very defined at the top of his routes, which is cool to see. He’s a tough cover because he’s so quick. He can beat you deep and also beat you underneath as well. He’s done a really great job.”