AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

March 27, 2018

Colts

Colt HC Frank Reich said QB Andrew Luck has begun throwing a football and he’s optimistic Luck will cut it loose at some point during the offseason. (Ian Rapoport)

Jaguars

Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said of Blake Bortles‘ recovery from offseason wrist surgery: “I’m happy that he’s out there [in Calif.] and I’m happy that he’s relayed to me that he’s pain free and he’s excited to come back with work with the players. …No limitations whatsoever.” (Ryan O’Halloran)
Marrone on new G Andrew Norwell: “Any team in the NFL would have loved to acquire a player like this. I think he’ll help everybody around him but I do think we have players who will help him elevate his game to the highest level.” (Ryan O’Halloran)

Texans

Texans HC Bill O’Brien said Tuesday that QB Deshaun Watson is ahead of schedule in regards to his ACL rehab and could be on the field throwing for OTAs.

“Deshaun’s ahead of schedule, but there’s still a lot of work,” O’Brien said, via ESPN.com. “He has a great idea how he feels and how his knee is. He knows the stages he needs to get back on the field.”

“I know he’s ahead of schedule,” O’Brien added. “He’s been in there every day working hard. He hurt the other knee in college, so he has a real good idea about how to go about the rehab. He knows the different stages, the different goals he has to meet along the way. I believe that he feel real good about where he is right now. And then we’ll just take it one day at a time during the offseason program because it’s a nine week program, so the first two weeks we’re not really doing anything on the field. And then the next three weeks you can do a little bit on the field. And then the last four weeks is when you’ve really got to see … that’s when you’re practicing. Which is OTAs with no pads on. So maybe he’ll be able to do something there. But we’re not in a rush on that. But I do think there’s going to be some things he can do throwing-wise. Probably not in team drills, but maybe he can do some 7-on-7, some of our passing drills, to continue to work on the timing, with receivers especially.”

O’Brien said of DE J.J. Watt: “JJ is doing really well. He’s got a great attitude. He’s been very positive about where he is with his (recovery). Seeing him in the building every day I would never bet against him. He’s going to be back at full strength. He knows exactly what he needs to do.” (John McClain)