AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

The Colts aren’t shying away from the fact they have a major challenge ahead of them following the retirement of QB Andrew Luck. However, Colts GM Chris Ballard believes trashing Indianapolis’ season before it begins would be premature, and that he’s built a roster that can overcome adversity. 

“The roster’s young, I’ll say that,” Ballard said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “I wouldn’t say we’re peaking all of a sudden. … Look, I think every year you’re working on the roster. Now, are we excited about our team? Yes, we are. We do think we’ve upgraded the talent here the last two years. We’ve got a very good football team. You’re talking about a 10-6 team that went on the road and won a playoff game. We’re excited. We’re still excited about the future. That has not changed.”

• According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, Luck met last Monday with owner Jim Irsay, GM Chris Ballard and HC Frank Reich to inform them he was retiring. 
• The team suggested to Luck he could go on injured reserve to try and continue rehab on his calf injury without the immediate pressure of trying to play. However, Luck said his mind was made up. 
• Luck didn’t start considering retirement until two weeks ago, but once he did he couldn’t stop thinking about it, per King. 
• Reich said the offense will change with QB Jacoby Brissett stepping in as the starter, but it won’t be dramatic. He compared it to when he filled in for Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly with the Bills and people thought Buffalo would have to scrap the K-gun offense: “That’s not how it rolled, and that’s not how we’ll roll.” (Tom Pelissero)
• The Colts haven’t made any decisions on the rest of their quarterbacks behind Brissett. Chad Kelly is suspended the first two weeks of the season and Indianapolis also has Phillip Walker. (Stephen Holder)
• Colts C Evan Boehm is one name that’s come up in recent trade talks. (Breer)
• Colts second-round WR Parris Campbell returned to practice for the first time in four weeks on Monday. (Mike Chappell)

Jaguars

• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye believes the Eagles could target either Jaguars G A.J. Cann or WR Keelan Cole in a trade, giving up either RB Josh Adams or Wendell Smallwood in return. 

Texans

• The Texans worked out free agent WR Justin Hunter two weeks ago, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Titans

Titans QB Marcus Mariota played only five snaps Sunday night during Tennessee’s Week 3 preseason match against the Steelers. It wasn’t the dress rehearsal the Titans wanted, as Mariota failed to complete any of his three passes and was sacked for a safety. Because the Titans OL couldn’t protect Mariota, who has a lengthy injury history, Titans HC Mike Vrabel was forced to step in. 

“We want to make sure that we can protect our quarterback — that’s important,” Vrabel said via Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website. “It’s imperative that we do that as a staff and we do that as an offensive group. … I wanted to see how the game was going, and at that point in time I thought it was in the team’s best interest and in everybody’s best interest that we get him out of the game at that point in time.”

• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye says the Eagles could target Titans TE MyCole Pruitt in a trade to add more depth. Kaye believes Tennessee could be interested in Eagles OL Matt Pryor. 
• Vrabel says DE Harold Landry is working his way back and should return to practice this week. (Wyatt)