AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

Colts HC Frank Reich says RB Nyheim Hines has earned the “third-down” role due to his running ability. 

“Nyheim is the main third-down guy because of the stuff that he can do,” Reich said, via Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan. 

Reich added that Jordan Wilkins, Jonathan William, and Spencer Ware are “vying” to backup RB Marlon Mack. 

“Other than that, Jordan and Jonathan and Spencer are vying for that other spot to be Marlon’s mixer,” said Reich. 

Regarding Ware, Reich said the veteran looks “very natural back there” and fits the “mold” of the Colts’ offense. 

“He’s a very natural back there,” Reich said. “He understands the game. It comes easy to him. He sees it easy. I was also very attracted to his physical toughness. You can’t see that as much out here, but just knowing his past, watching tape on him and his mentality. He fits our mold. This is a tough dude – tough yards, not afraid to block. He is the kind of guy – not that we do much of this – but if you ever wanted to get into an I-formation, you can put him there. He is the kind of guy you can count on to get tough yardage. He has proven that in his career.”

Jaguars

• Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union writes that there are no signs of progress between the Jaguars and DE Yannick Ngakoue regarding a long-term extension and it’s possible that his holdout could extend into training camp and beyond. 
• According to Frenette, there’s no indication that the two sides are even talking at this point in time. 
• Frenette mentions that the Jaguars could allow Ngakoue to play out the 2019 season for $2.025 million and then franchise him in 2020 and 2021. 
• As for Ngakoue, he could opt to hold out into the season and play out his contract, as opposed to taking a long-term extension that pays him less than a top-of-the-market salary. 
• Frenette points out that nobody is more underpaid on the Jaguars than Ngakoue and not signing him long-term could impact their negotiations with other notable players including CB Jalen Ramsey. 

Texans

Texans RB Lamar Miller worked to lose weight heading into last season and the result was a 4.6 yards per carry, the highest of his Houston tenure. He wants to do something similar this year. 

“Right now, I’m pretty much the same as I came in last year,” Miller said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Last year, I came in at like 220. So, right now I’m like 220, 221. But I’m going to try to drop my body fat down a little bit heading towards training camp.”