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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Mike Moraitis

AFC South news roundup: Colts OTAs storylines; Calvin Ridley a top 5 WR?

It’s Sunday (but you already knew that), which means it’s time for another AFC South news roundup to check in on the Tennessee Titans’ division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

We’re in the quiet time of the offseason where teams are in between rookie minicamp and organized team activities. The Titans actually begin their OTAs on Tuesday, which will be open to the media.

In our latest trip around the AFC South, we start in Indy where the Colts have some interesting things to keep an eye on as their OTAs begin. Also, running back Jonathan Taylor is making a change ahead of his contract year.

In Jacksonville, the Jags have officially inked their entire 2023 draft class, making them the first AFC South squad to do so. The team is also floating the idea of playing at TIAA Bank Field during renovations, but that will prove costly.

Meanwhile, in Houston, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson reveals what the biggest adjustment has been for him since entering the NFL.

We go over those stories and much, much more in our latest trip around the AFC South to check in on the Colts, Jaguars and Texans ahead of OTAs.

Matt Ryan joins CBS Sports as NFL analyst

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Former Atlanta Falcons and Colts quarterback Matt Ryan is taking an analyst job with CBS Sports. The veteran signal-caller says he is not retired, though.

Read more here.

Colts to host Bears for joint training camp practices

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

The Colts are going to host the Chicago Bears for joint practices before their preseason Week 2 game. The Titans play in Chicago in preseason Week 1 and could hold joint practices with the Bears, also.

Read more here.

Which Day 3 pick could be hidden gem for the Colts?

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Colts Wire’s Cody Manning goes into detail about why he believes the team’s fifth-round pick and safety Daniel Scott could be the hidden gem from the Colts’ 2023 NFL draft class.

Read more here.

Colts sign WR Josh Downs to rookie contract

AP Photo/Chris Seward

Indy inked third-round pick and wide receiver Josh Downs to his rookie deal on Tuesday, making him the first Colts selection from Day 1 or 2 to be signed. Indy now has eight of their 12 picks inked.

Read more here.

Pat McAfee joining ESPN in massive new deal

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Former Colts punter Pat McAfee and his wildly popular show have a new home on ESPN. McAfee and his crew do a great job and I’m a fan, but let’s hope there’s no changes in the show now that he’s under the Worldwide Leader’s umbrella.

Read more here.

Jonathan Taylor switching agents with contract extension looming

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is changing agents as he enters a contract year. Taylor put together a very good rookie campaign and then a sensational 2021 season, but his injury-plagued 2022 will no doubt hurt his cause. I don’t think he’ll have an easy time landing a big new deal because of that, and especially with how devalued the position has become over the years.

Read more here.

6 things to watch as Colts begin OTAs

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Among the things to watch for on Cody Manning of Colts Wire’s list are who takes the majority of first-team reps at quarterback (Anthony Richardson vs. Gardner Minshew) and slot receiver (Josh Downs vs. Isaiah McKenzie).

Read more here.

7 breakout candidates for the Colts in 2023

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Cody Felger of Colts Wire pegs seven players who could break out for Indy in 2023. Among them are wide receiver Alec Pierce and tight end Jelani Woods.

Read more here.

Jaguars sign Anton Harrison to finish deals for 2023 draft class

Syndication: Florida Times-Union

While the rest of the AFC South tries to hammer down its 2023 draft class, the Jags have already done that, with the signing of first-rounder Anton Harrison being the last rookie deal Jacksonville needed to get done.

Read more here.

Jaguars could stay at TIAA Bank Field with 4-year renovation

Syndication: Florida Times-Union

Jags president Mark Lamping says it is possible for the team to pull off a multi-year renovation of TIAA Bank Field without having to play at an alternate site during the process. However, that will cost the team $100 million more and double the construction time from two to four years.

Read more here.

Misdemeanor charges against Jaguars CB Chris Claybrooks dropped

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars cornerback Chris Claybrooks, who was arrested in Nashville last month following an alleged dispute in a movie theater, had misdemeanor charges for domestic assault with bodily injury and vandalism dropped.

Read more here.

Dawuane Smoot 'ahead of schedule' in injury recovery, says trainer

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jags free agent and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered in December. Smoot has been a key piece of the Jags’ defense in recent years.

Read more here.

Davante Adams says Jaguars' Calvin Ridley is a top 5 WR in NFL

Syndication: Florida Times-Union

Las Vegas Raiders star receiver Davante Adams believes Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley is a top-five receiver in the NFL. He also listed himself, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs. Ridley is a good player, but I need to see more than one elite year before I can subscribe to that.

Read more here.

Jaguars to 'sit back' until after OTAs, says Trent Baalke

Syndication Florida Times Union

Jags general manager Trent Baalke plans to add more to the team’s roster ahead of 2023, but for now the team is just sitting back and waiting to see how things shake out moving forward. Sound familiar, Titans fans?

Read more here.

What has the biggest adjustment been for Texans DE Will Anderson?

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Texans first-round pick Will Anderson says the detail has been the biggest adjustment for him since entering the NFL.

Read more here.

Texans' season could be defined by a 5-game stretch

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Lane of Texans Wire lays out the five-game stretch that could define Houston’s 2023 campaign. That stretch includes the Week 15 matchup against the Titans in Nashville.

Report: Texans bringing back DE Jacob Martin

Syndication: The Tennessean

The Texans are bringing edge rusher Jacob Martin back on a one-year deal. Martin was fairly productive in a reserve role for Houston from 2019-21.

Read more here.

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