AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

• The Athletic’s Stephen Holder writes there aren’t many scenarios where Colts QB Jacoby Brissett wouldn’t be on the roster in 2020. 
• While Holder acknowledges the Colts will evaluate Brissett and won’t hesitate to upgrade if they have the chance, he adds the belief in the building is that Brissett can be successful with the right environment around him, like healthy receivers. 

Jaguars

The first head rolled in Jacksonville this week when team owner Shad Khan axed Jaguars EVP Tom Coughlin. Despite making the AFC Championship game in Coughlin’s first season in 2017, the Jaguars went backward each of the past two years and widespread changes have been rumored for some time. Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said he’s well aware he’s potentially on the hot seat as well, but that he hasn’t heard anything definitive from Khan. Until he does, his focus is on the last two games of the season. 

“I’m working on trying to win these games,” Marrone said via NFL Media’s Kevin Patra. “Obviously, I’m disappointed. I know that I’m judged by wins and losses. … I know it’s always tough to write when a team’s not winning and I put that on myself. I take a lot of pride in being a good leader and being able to win football games and obviously I haven’t won enough. … I really just stay in this moment and try to do the best job I can and keep fighting. I am where I am today, I believe this, because I’ve always just kept fighting and stayed focused. I think that I’ve always held my head up high knowing I did the best job I can and I will always continue to do that as long as I’m in the position I’m in, whatever position it may be.”

• According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Coughlin was planning to retire at the end of the season before he was fired on Wednesday. 
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer lists Coughlin’s run-ins with players, including CB Jalen Ramsey, DE Yannick Ngakoue, RB Leonard Fournette and DE Dante Fowler, that prompted multiple grievances from the NFLPA filed against the team. 
• Breer notes that the NFLPA’s statement pointing out 25 percent of the grievances they filed in the past two years have been against the Jaguars and urging players to consider signing elsewhere was the final straw for Khan regarding Coughlin. 
• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said a prominent agent with current clients on the Jaguars tells him they would have no qualms about clients signing in Jacksonville in the future. 
• Judy Battista says the door is open for Marrone to stay on next season if the Jaguars finish the season strong, though it’s unusual to keep a head coach while hiring a new executive. 
• According to Jason La Canfora, Khan and the front office have “long had a fascination” in Patriots OC Josh McDaniels and former Patriots executive Scott Pioli. 

Texans

• OUT for Week 16: LB Jacob Martin (knee), LB Benardrick McKinney (concussion)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 16: S Jahleel Addae (achilles), WR Will Fuller (hamstring), RB Carlos Hyde (ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring), LB Brennan Scarlett (achilles, shoulder)

Titans

• Per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Titans RB Derrick Henry said that as long as his legs are even halfway on, his hamstring injury won’t keep him out Sunday.