AFC Notes: Raiders, Texans, Titans

Raiders

Raiders HC Jack Del Rio mentioned that they plan to let CB Sean Smith deal with the legal issues that stem from an arrest for allegedly beating up his sister’s boyfriend. Although, Del Rio did say that Smith was defending his sister in the situation.

“I think we’ll let him battle legally what issues he has,” Del Rio said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “I don’t really have anything to add to it. I mean, I think you heard the story. He was defending his sister. Obviously, things occurred that were taken issue with, so he’s having to defend himself right now.”

Texans

Texans HC Bill O’Brien tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com that he believes DE J.J. Watt will not only be “at the top of his game” but be “better than he was” previously.

“I can tell you right now the guy’s going to be at the top of his game,” O’Brien said. “He’s had a great training camp. I think he’ll be better than he was.”

Watt wound up sitting out the 2016 season due to a back injury and he has made it clear that he isn’t going to rush anything this time around.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Watt said. “I’m sure the doctors don’t know the answer. That’s the goal. But all I know is I can be as smart as I can possibly be, and that’s with practice reps, that’s with workouts, that’s with doing everything I can to make sure that for those 16 games-plus a year, I am ready to roll. I feel great and as long as we stick to the plan that we’ve got—a day off here and there, some practice reps off here and there—I think we are going to be in good shape.”

Titans

Titans HC Mike Mularkey mentioned that rookie WR Corey Davis is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery hamstring injury that has cost him most of training camp.

“He is frustrated, without showing it, about not being able to be with his teammates,” Mularkey said, via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. “He wants to be out there, more than we want him to be out there.”

According to Mularkey, Davis is still on track to play in the Titans’ preseason finale against the Chiefs “if he continues to progress like he is.”

“Obviously, it would be really good for him to get into one, but we want him for the season, not for a preseason game,” Mularkey said.