AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

According to Adam Caplan, Colts QB Jacoby Brissett‘s new two-year deal is for $30.025 million total, $20 million guaranteed, and includes:

• 2019: $11 million signing bonus, $2 million fully guaranteed base salary, $2 million total in per-game roster bonuses and a $25,000 workout bonus.
• 2020: $6 million base salary, a fully guaranteed $7 million roster bonus and $2 million total in per-game roster bonuses.
• Per Jason Fitzgerald with Over The Cap, the Colts should have more than $100 million in cap space in 2020. 
• The Colts deactivated DE Tyquan Lewis for Sunday’s game because they felt he didn’t have enough practice time as he works back from a knee injury. (George Bremer)
• While DE Jabaal Sheard missed practice again Wednesday, Colts HC Frank Reich said he’s progressing toward returning to the field. (Joel Erickson)

Jaguars

It didn’t take long for the Jaguars’ season to go off the rails last year, and it could take even less time this year following Jacksonville’s Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Not only did the team lose prize free-agent acquisition QB Nick Foles to a broken clavicle, but they’re down to their third-string left tackle and continue to have issues with penalties, tackling and blown coverages on defense. Despite that, Jaguars DE Calais Campbell said the team isn’t panicking or feeling deja vu. 

“It’s a way different scenario,” Campbell said via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco. “It doesn’t feel like last year at all. It’s a whole new year. It’s just the first game and we didn’t play good. We made way too many mistakes and we didn’t tackle well. It’s something that we can fix and we’re going to fix. I’m confident in my guys. We’re going to put the work in. We’re going to prepare and we’re going to get better. It’s one game and it sucks. You don’t want to lose them, but the best thing about the NFL is we’ve got another opportunity this week.”

• According to Jason Fitzgerald with Over The Cap, the Jaguars are currently projected to be over the salary cap in 2020. 
• The Jaguars tried out TE Brian Parker this week. (Howard Balzer)

Texans

Protecting QB Deshaun Watson has been the No. 1 priority for the Texans this offseason as evidenced by the haul they gave up to acquire LT Laremy Tunsil from the Dolphins. They’re still waiting to see the results of that investment, though, as Watson was sacked six times and hit 11 times during Monday night’s loss to the Saints, to say nothing of being battered in the air on a touchdown run and getting some medical attention afterward. 

“We ran that play on fourth down and he kind of got flipped in the air,” Texans HC Bill O’Brien said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He just landed. It’s nothing that’s going to keep him out, just treatment, just normal bumps and bruises like every player in the game has.”

• Per Wilson, a long-term extension for Texans DT D.J. Reader is something the team would like, but a deal between the two sides is not yet imminent. 
• O’Brien said first-round OL Tytus Howard is recovering well and has a shot to play in Week 2. (Wilson)
• The Texans wanted to make sure they locked up C Nick Martin long-term despite some health issues, per O’Brien: “One of the leaders of our team, smart, tough, dependable. Had to in the past deal with some injuries. Played good on Monday night, want him to be a Texan. We all felt like best move for Nick and our team.” (Wilson)
• After cutting nickel cornerback Aaron Colvin, O’Brien mentioned both sides just needed a fresh start: “Aaron worked hard for us. We felt like it was in best interest for us and him for Aaron to get a fresh start.” (Wilson)
• O’Brien highlighted second-round CB Lonnie Johnson as a candidate to take over for Colvin inside. (Wilson)
• Texans CB Cornell Armstrong re-signed with the Texans’ practice squad despite some interest from other teams after being waived yesterday. (Brett Tessler)