AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

Former Colts HC Chuck Pagano gave his assessment of the quarterback situation in Indianapolis with Matt Ryan and Sam Ehlinger.

“He’s really struggled, and they’ve struggled, especially on the offensive side,” Pagano said of Ryan, via The Indy Star. “There was so much promise and electricity around that team and that roster coming into this year after they moved on from Carson (Wentz) a year ago and brought Matt in there. So much hope. You feel for that organization, feel for that team, that locker room, and those fans there. Now, what’s the rest of this year gonna look like? It’s almost like a waste.”

“He’s got arm talent,” Pagano said of Ehlinger. “He’s a mobile guy. He’s strong, he’s intelligent, smart. He’ll do a nice job as far as managing the games. It won’t be too big for him. (Colts general manager Chris Ballard said) they liked the kid. They had high praise for Sam and thought that, with some time, he can develop and maybe become a guy. He’s gonna get a shot and they’re all going to find out what he is in the weeks to come and see, ‘OK, is he a real dude or do we have to go find another one?’ This will give him a great opportunity to show what he can do.”

• 1075TheFan.com’s Kevin Bowen writes the Colts should strongly consider being sellers ahead of the trade deadline to add more picks to try and find an answer at quarterback. He mentions C Ryan Kelly and LB Shaquille Leonard specifically as two of the bigger-name players Indianapolis could consider dealing. 
• Leonard has struggled to stay healthy this season but the Colts have fared okay at linebacker without him. Kelly hasn’t played up to his Pro Bowl ability and has also had some health struggles in recent seasons. Bowen says if the Colts can find a buyer, it would help them redistribute their cap allocation to other, more impactful positions. 
• Bowen also mentions veteran CB Stephon Gilmore, who signed with the Colts believing they would be contenders this season. He’s been outstanding still so the Colts could potentially get a pick back from another true-contending team in need of cornerback help. 
• Colts LB Shaquille Leonard (back, concussion, nose) said he feels “more explosive” and missed last week’s game because their staff felt he wasn’t ready to play: “I feel like last week — coaches, they have to make decisions and it’s all about No. 1, player safety and No. 2, putting the team in the best position to win. I’ve just got to respect that and hope this week my number is called.” (ProFootballTalk)
• Colts HC Frank Reich confirmed that Leonard will play in Week 8. (Adam Schefter)
• Reich added that Leonard will play on a limited basis: “He will be on a pitch count.” (George Bremer)

Jaguars

Jaguars OC Press Taylor said RB Jamycal Hasty has earned the trust of his teammates and the coaching staff.

“I think he’s earned the trust of a lot of guys; coaches, players, everything,” Taylor said, via Jags Wire. “Our confidence in him has grown, I think his confidence in his own understanding of the system has probably grown.”

Taylor singled out Hasty as the guy who has proven that he’s capable of handling any situation on the field and credited him for not only converting on a short-yardage situation but taking it 60 yards for a touchdown.

“We have the versatility from our skill guys to be able to do a lot of different things, I think you saw that nobody anticipated the Indianapolis short yardage play, JaMycal taking it 60 yards,” Taylor said. “We needed a yard, and we were trying to emphasize that with him, we were confident that he was a guy that could go get a yard in that particular play, and he turned it into a 60-yarder. That was a short-yard situation, we put him on it, he did a great job executing it, everybody did across the board.”

Texans

Texans TE Jordan Akins had a brief stint with the Giants before returning to Houston and finding success with his original team.

“Coming back is an honor,” Akins said, via Aaron Wilson. “To be back with my brothers and compete and go to work with my soldiers. Anytime my jersey is called to make a play, I try to do the best I can whether it’s special teams or offense, anyway I can contribute.”

“We’re just picking up where we left off,” Akins added. “More repetitions for the tight end to run down the seams, in the flats, as well as inside the hashes. I think we’re connecting pretty well. He’s trusting us and we’re trusting him. Repetition, practice and just being able to read the defensive coverage well. He’s doing a great job of stepping up in the pocket, and the timing is perfect. We’re moving the chains, and we’re looking forward to continuing to do that.”