Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear he isn’t interested in using a contract year as leverage, even with his deal set to expire after the season.
Ballard said he would not have taken a new extension before the year if one had been put on the table, stressing that the organization has to come first.
“I’m in the last year of my deal,” Ballard said, via Pro Football Talk. “We need to win.
I think I will always - and y’all all know me well enough - I’m always going to do the best thing for the organization. Ultimately, that’s my job.
Anytime you do selfish, alternative, ulterior motive in play - that’s not good for the game, it’s not good for the organization. We will always do what’s best for this club.
I have too much respect for the Colts, I have too much respect for what Mr. Irsay stood for as an owner, too much respect for the girls - for Carlie [Irsay-Gordon], Casey [Foyt], and Kalen [Jackson] - as they start their venture as owners into this thing.
No, we’ll always do the right thing.”
There’s also movement on the player side in Indianapolis. Running back Jonathan Taylor said talks have taken place about a possible new contract and sounded optimistic about where things stand.
“I have faith things are moving in the right direction.”
Cornerback Charvarius Ward also opened up about how close he came to stepping away from football altogether. Ward said he was nearly done before finding a new source of motivation through his children.
“It felt like I belong out here. I was probably like 85% sure I was gonna retire.
But I found a different ‘why,’ a different purpose. Doing it for Jr., doing it for Amani, my daughter (who passed away).
They bring me joy.”
In Jacksonville, linebacker Jack Kiser is expected to be back at some point during camp after dealing with a right knee injury.
Houston has a few contract and injury situations worth watching as camp gets going. Wide receiver Jaylin Noel is not expected to stay on the active/non-football injury list for long after injuring his finger, while Tank Dell avoided the PUP list to open training camp but will be brought along slowly as he works back into football shape.
The biggest long-term question in Houston remains C.J. Stroud. Texans general manager Nick Caserio said he has spoken with Stroud’s agent and called a possible extension a “possibility,” though sources say nothing is imminent or definite.
Caserio said the Texans will handle the situation by focusing on what works best for the team.
“You take all the information and make the best decision possible. It’s not necessarily about what other teams are doing.
We do what is best for our team. We try to figure out what we can agree upon.
We try not to overcomplicate or overthink it and make an assessment. We try to make the right decision.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he doesn’t spend much time on contract talk with players, including Stroud, and believes the field will ultimately decide those matters.
“When it comes to contracts, and I really don’t get into a lot of deep discussions with guys when it comes to the contract situation. But I truly believe you get the contract by what you do on the field.
It doesn’t matter about what you say, what I say. It’s about how you perform on the field, and if you’re worthy of getting a contract and you deserve it, it’ll happen for you.”
Ryans also praised veteran running back David Montgomery, saying he “fits the brand of ball that I want to play” and pointing to the need for a stronger ground game.
“It’s no secret that we need to improve our running game. It has not been good enough since I’ve been here.”
Stroud, for his part, said he is leaving the contract business to agent David Mulugheta and staying locked in on football.
“I’m just focused on football.”
He also addressed the quarterback-coach change from Jerrod Johnson to Jerry Schuplinski, calling the transition difficult while crediting both coaches for what they bring.
“It was tough. Jerrod is a very talented coach, been in my life since I was 16.
I see him being a top offensive coordinator or God willing a head coach one day. Jerry has come in more of a system guy, has helped me in that area.
He’s been great. Communicates very well.”
In Other News...
Texans Line Overhaul Could Finally Change Everything For C.J. Stroud
The Texans spent the offseason treating the offensive line like a priority instead of a patch job, and that matters most for C.J. Stroud. After a year in which Houston struggled to keep the pocket clean and find any real rhythm in the run game, the front office went to work by adding veteran help, bringing in a guard via trade and using the draft to add another young piece to the mix.
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen even singled out one of those moves as one of the leagues most impactful additions of the offseason, a sign that Houstons approach is getting noticed beyond NRG Stadium. The bigger question now is whether all of that investment finally gives Stroud the kind of protection and balance the Texans have been chasing, because the talent is there for this offense to look very different if the line holds up. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Camp Could Change Fast If One Bold Prediction Hits
Houstons camp opened with a few familiar names already working through injuries, and that has a way of reshuffling the depth chart before the pads even come on. With Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel sidelined, the Texans suddenly have extra snaps available at receiver, and that kind of opening can matter for a rookie trying to turn a good week into a roster case. Lewis Bond is among the players who can use this stretch to make himself harder to ignore, especially in the slot where every rep carries a little more weight.
The ripple effect goes beyond the wideouts, too, because the Texans are sorting through a tight end group that has real competition behind Dalton Schultz. Brevin Jordan is back in the mix after a rough run of leg injuries, Marlin Klein is pushing for attention, and the staff still has to figure out how to balance the rest of the roster while E.J. Speeds quad injury leaves a hole at linebacker. Add in the reported interest in former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, and camp already has the feel of a roster that could change quickly if one of these openings turns into a move. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Camp Scare Puts More Pressure On Thin Linebacker Room
A quiet depth battle at linebacker turned into a much bigger concern on Day Two of Texans training camp, when Jake Hansen had to be carted off the field after an apparent injury. Hansen has spent four seasons carving out a role in Houston as a special teams contributor and backup linebacker, the kind of player teams lean on for stability when the grind of camp starts to expose the edges of a roster.
Now the Texans have another question in a room that did not have much margin to begin with, and Hansens absence would only sharpen the pressure on the younger names trying to earn trust. Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher are among the rookies who could feel the ripple effect, as Houston continues sorting out a linebacker group that suddenly looks even thinner than it did before practice started. [Read more 🡒]