AFC South Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans

Colts

Colts second-round LB Ben Banogu feels he is “prepared well” and is waiting on his opportunity to be a consistent starter. 

“If the coaches put me in, they have a game plan for me or they have certain things they want me to do, I’m down for it,” Banogu said, via George Bremer of the Herald Bulletin. “I feel like I’ve prepared well, and I’ve practiced well. Just kind of waiting on my opportunity.”

Banogu said he is focused on continuing to improve as a player. 

“So, obviously, you can’t control things that aren’t in your control. You can only worry about yourself and how you can help yourself be the best player you can be. That’s my mindset, so whatever happens outside of me and outside of this team, it is what it is. I’m just kind of worried about me right now.”

• Colts CB Pierre Desir will likely miss Sunday’s game against the Texans, while S Malik Hooker will likely be listed as doubtful. (Joel Erickson)
• The Colts are confident DE Justin Houston will be able to play. (George Bremer)
• The Indianapolis Colts officially ruled out WR Parris Campbell (abdomen), DT Tyquan Lewis (ankle), and CB Kenny Moore (knee) and have S Malik Hooker (knee) down as doubtful. 
• The Colts also list CB Pierre Desir (hamstring), DE Justin Houston (calf), and G Quenton Nelson (hip) as questionable. 

Jaguars

• Per NFL Media’s Michael Giardi, Jaguars QB Nick Foles will return to practice next week. 
• The Jaguars tried out CBs Parry Nickerson (signed), Jordan Brown, Arrion Springs and Kenneth Durden. (Howard Balzer)
• The Jacksonville Jaguars officially ruled out WR Marqise Lee (ankle) and TE Geoff Swaim (concussion, ankle) and have WR Dede Westbrook (shoulder) down as questionable.

Texans

• Per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, Texans HC Bill O’Brien says WR Kenny Stills is on track to return from his hamstring injury and play this week. 
• The Houston Texans officially ruled out T Tytus Howard (knee) and C Greg Mancz (concussion) and have S Tashaun Gipson (hip, wrist), CB Johnathan Joseph (hamstring), and CB Bradley Roby (hamstring) down as questionable.

Titans

Titans DE Cameron Wake is quite familiar with new Titans starting QB Ryan Tannehill. Wake was in Miami when the Dolphins drafted Tannehill and the two joined the Titans this offseason, Wake via free agency and Tannehill via trade. Wake says the Titans are in good hands. 

“I guess I am the only person who can say they’ve seen every snap he’s ever taken,” Wake said via Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website. “It has been a pleasure. He’s a competitor, he’s tough, he has a strong will to win, he’s smart. He has a lot of intangibles and is a big strong guy who can run.”

However, Wake added the rest of the team needed to play better for Tannehill than it did for previous starter Marcus Mariota in the first six games of the season. 

“I think he has all the pieces, but it is a collective effort,” Wake said. “I don’t think any one player is going to be a solution to a lot of pieces that has to play better, and obviously my unit is one of those, I am one of those. So we need to go out there and put a collective game together, that is what is most important.”