AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Titans

Colts

Given that former Colts QB Andrew Luck retired for health reasons before he’d even turned 30, it’s natural to speculate if he’d consider a return to the game after a break. However, Colts HC Frank Reich said in his conversations with Luck as a friend that he doesn’t get the sense Luck misses the game enough to come back. 

“He’s a friend. I talk to him, we communicate. I sense none of that. We don’t talk about that. I think he’s retired,” Reich said via Pro Football Talk. “He’s like any other ex-player. You’re always going to miss your buddies in the locker room. That’s normal. I don’t read into that a clue that he wants to come back. He’s just a good friend.”

• According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the belief at the NFL Scouting Combine is the Colts will pursue former Chargers QB Philip Rivers in free agency, as he has a great relationship with Reich. 
• LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire met with the Colts at the Combine. (Josh Norris)

Jaguars

When asked about their plans this offseason, Jaguars GM David Caldwell made clear that they want to be playoff contenders in 2020. 

“This is a win-now league, obviously,” Caldwell said, via John Oehser of the team’s official site. “We want to win this year, and we’ll do the things necessary to put the best team on the field.”

Caldwell reiterated that the Jaguars would like to re-sign impending free-agent DE Yannick Ngakoue.

“There’s still a process that needs to be played [out],” Caldwell said. “I think you guys know how we feel about him. We want him here. We’re going to try to get him here and keep him here one way or another.”

Caldwell added that “all options are on the table” for keeping Ngakoue.

“I think all options are on the table,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got to work through the process with him and see where we are.”

• LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire met with the Jaguars at the Combine. (Josh Norris)

Titans

Titans GM Jon Robinson said “we’ll see how that goes” in regards to QB Ryan Tannehill‘s and other impending free-agents’ contract negotiations this offseason. 

“We’ll see how that goes,” Robinson said, via Jim Wyatt of the team’s official site. “He is under contract here for the next few weeks and he did a great job for us. We’ll start those (contract) talks and see where those go, just like all the other players.”

As for Titans’ impending free-agent RB Derrick Henry, Robinson said they will do “everything we can” to re-sign him. 

“Derrick had a great year for us – he led the league in rushing,” Robinson said. “He built off the second half of the 2018 season that he had. He cares about his teammates, he works hard, he is great in the community. So we are going to work through that one and do everything we can to keep him around.”

As for the possibility of using the franchise or transition tags, Robinson mentioned that they have not had to use them up to this point. 

“We haven’t had to use it before,” Robinson said, “so we’ll see.”

• Titans HC Mike Vrabel hit a similar note regarding Tannehill in his comments to Pro Football Talk: “With free agency, it’s a two-way street. Players have to want to be back and teams have to make decisions.”
• While the initial reaction from a lot of executives, coaches and scouts has been skeptical that Patriots QB Tom Brady leaves New England, NFL Media’s Michael Giardi mentions the Titans have come up as a potential destination for Brady.