NFL Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Lions, Texans

Colts

• The Indianapolis Colts announced Saturday that CB Vontae Davis will not make the trip to Houston for the team’s Week 9 game due to a non-injury related issue. (Mike Chappell)
• The Colts will likely start Rashaan Melvin and Pierre Desir tomorrow at cornerback. (George Bremer)
• According to Pro Football Talk, Davis needs more treatment on his previously-injured groin, which explains why he didn’t travel with the team.

Jaguars

• Michael DiRocco of ESPN writes that the Jaguars success this season could largely be credited to their offensive line and performance of their defensive free agent signings — DE Calais Campbell, CB A.J. Bouye, and S Barry Church — being “significantly better” than they were during the preseason.

Lions

According to Lions HC Jim Caldwell, the lack of carries for RB Ameer Abdullah is dependant on the particular situation. Caldwell added that Abdullah may start getting some third-down carries.

“It just depends on the situation, and we use our guys where we think they fit in particular games,” Caldwell said, via Michael Rothstein of ESPN. “There may be some games where he may get some. There may be other games that he doesn’t.”

Abdullah added that he has not thought about his lack of carries on third downs.

“No, man. Statistics, you can break them down to make anything look a certain way,” Abdullah said. “But for me, I haven’t really thought about that intuitively about not having a carry on third down.”

Texans

Texans QB Tom Savage said he’s thankful for the second opportunity to be team’s starter, but he’s also “heartbroken” by the loss of QB Deshaun Watson to an ACL tear.

“You get another shot at this thing, and not too many guys get a second chance like that,” Savage said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “Just going to take it and have fun with it.

“I was heartbroken [for Watson] as a friend with all this stuff. It was fun watching him. But as a backup quarterback, you’ve got to be ready to go, and these guys need me in this locker room.”

According to Texans HC Bill O’Brien, Savage “has improved from the last time he played.”

“He had a great practice today,” O’Brien said. “He’s a very accurate passer. He’s got a very talented arm. Got a good bunch of guys around him. Every game’s different. This is the halfway point of the season, so he’s had a lot more reps.“