AFC South Notes: Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Jaguars

• According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, Jaguars WR D.J. Chark returned to practice. 
• Though he remains in the concussion protocol, Chark is targeting Week 1 to return. 
• Jaguars third-round LB Quincy Williams returned to practice for the first time since tearing his meniscus earlier in camp according to HC Doug Marrone: “That’s a good break for us; we’re on schedule with him…” (John Oehser)
• Marrone said neither Will Richardson nor A.J. Cann need to play Thursday to finalize the starting right guard spot: “It’s a tough decision. I don’t know if one guy’s going to be the starter and that’s it. I have platooned players before – a couple of series.” (Oehser)

Texans

Following the loss of RB Lamar Miller for the season, Texans HC Bill O’Brien still believes they have a “good situation” at running back. 

“I think if you look at our running back situation right now, we have a good situation,” O’Brien said, via NFL.com. “I think adding Duke Johnson was a good move. He’s been good in the meeting room, in practice, very professional attitude. We’ll see what happens. Anything can happen.”

The Texans initially traded for Johnson after cutting bait on former third-rounder D’Onta Foreman as a complement to Miller. When Miller went down, that pushed Johnson into a much bigger role than he’s played in Cleveland the past few seasons. Houston believes Johnson is up to the task, though. 

“I wouldn’t call him a third-down back,” Texans HC Bill O’Brien said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “I know that he is a substituted back, so in the past he’s played a lot against sub defenses, but you can see sub defenses on first, second or third downs. I think with us he’ll be used in a lot of different ways, and he’s had a lot of snaps. He’s been out there playing a lot. . . . I don’t think it’ll be him exclusively. We’ve got a lot of other guys at that position that we can mix and match with.”

• Texans OT Matt Kalil, OL Tytus Howard, WR Keke Coutee and OL Greg Mancz all returned to practice. (Wilson)
• O’Brien is “not hopeful” Coutee will be able to play in Week 1 against the Saints, however. (Sarah Barshop)

Titans

Titans RB Derrick Henry has been locked up since close to the start of training camp with a lower leg injury as the Titans seek to protect their workhorse running back. Henry says he expects to play in Tennessee’s Week 1 tilt against the Browns, adding his focus is on building off his month-long tear at the end of 2018 to put together a complete 2019 season.

“You have to play at a high level,” Henry said via Jim Wyatt of the team’s website. “You can’t have that inconsistency throughout the season like I had last year. Seasons come with adversity, but I have to focus on being consistent and efficient and being a great player for this team.”