AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Titans

Colts

• Kevin Bowen of 1075TheFan writes Colts third-round LB Bobby Okereke made a “couple of critical plays” in Week 5 while filling in for Darius Leonard, who is returning from the league’s concussion protocol. 
• The Colts worked out eight players. (NFLTR)

Jaguars

Jaguars WR DJ Chark has been one of the league’s top breakout players so far in 2019. As a second-round rookie, Chark only caught 14 passes last year as he adjusted to the NFL. So far this year, Chark has nearly doubled that with 27 catches for 485 yards and five touchdowns through five games this year.

″As a coach, I think you have high expectations for all of your players,″ Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said via John Reid of Jacksonville.com. ″I think D.J. has high expectations of himself. I think he’s worked extremely hard, and it always goes back to that. People can only see the just the on-field performance. We’re happy that he’s playing well.″

Titans

The Titans brought in G Rodger Saffold from the Rams this offseason on a four-year, $44 million deal to solidify their offensive line after Saffold was an integral part of the Rams Super Bowl run. So far though, the veteran has struggled along with the rest of the Titans offensive line to protect the quarterback. 

“For me, it’s tough. I feel like I am letting my team down at this point,” Saffold said via ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I am not used to this type of frustration. It’s something that I am not going to blame on anybody — my teammates, my coaches. The only thing I can do is come in here and try to not be too down. On Wednesday, I have to come in here with my hair on fire and go through practice with a different type of mindset.”

The last time new Titans K Cody Parkey was seen in an NFL game, he infamously missed a field goal that was partially blocked and then bounced twice off the goalposts. It cost the Bears their season in the playoffs and ended up costing Parkey his job. But after Cairo Santos, his predecessor in Tennessee, missed four field goals in a seven-point loss Sunday, the Titans turned to Parkey to give him a second chance. 

“I think everything happens for a reason,” Parkey said via Jim Wyatt of the official team website. “There’s a reason I’m here in Tennessee and looking forward to the game on Sunday. [My confidence is] very high, as high as its been the last five seasons. I’ve had some success in this league, and I plan on continuing to do so.”