AFC South Roundup: Stroud’s Texans Surge, Titans Stumble, and Colts Navigate Injuries
As the NFL calendar flips into December, the AFC South is starting to separate into clear tiers - with one team gaining serious momentum, another stuck in neutral, and a third trying to stop the bleeding. Let’s break down where things stand coming out of Week 13.
Colts: No IR for Sauce Gardner (For Now), Kicking Situation Still Unclear
Colts head coach Shane Steichen made it clear this week: cornerback Sauce Gardner won’t be heading to injured reserve - at least not yet. Gardner is set to miss some time, but exactly how long remains uncertain.
“He’s going to miss some time. How much, I don’t know,” Steichen said.
It’s a wait-and-see situation for Indy, and while Gardner’s absence is a blow, the team appears hopeful it won’t be a long-term issue. Gardner’s presence in the secondary is critical, especially as the Colts push through the final stretch of the season in a tightly contested AFC playoff picture.
On the special teams front, Steichen was asked whether a change at kicker might be coming. He didn’t bite, instead pointing reporters toward GM Chris Ballard for any personnel decisions. That non-answer might say more than a direct one would - and suggests the team is at least evaluating its options.
Texans: Stroud’s Return Sparks Fourth Straight Win
C.J. Stroud was back under center, and the Texans didn’t miss a beat. Houston notched its fourth win in a row with a divisional victory over the Colts, and Stroud looked sharp, throwing for 276 yards in his return.
More than just numbers, though, it’s the confidence Stroud brings that’s starting to define this Texans team. He’s not just playing well - he’s leading with belief.
“We’re super dangerous,” Stroud said after the win. “We lost some close games against some really good teams. If we can find a way to win some close games after Thanksgiving, we’ll put ourselves in position to do whatever we want.”
That’s not just talk. Houston is showing real signs of being a team that can control its own destiny.
They’ve already proven they can hang with tough opponents - now it’s about closing games and continuing to build on this momentum. If they do, the Texans could be a serious problem in the AFC down the stretch.
Titans: Sloppy Play, No Progress, and Mounting Frustration
It’s been a brutal season in Tennessee, and Week 13 was more of the same. The Titans dropped to 1-11 after a 25-3 loss at home to the Jaguars - a game where they turned the ball over twice and committed 10 penalties. Interim head coach Mike McCoy didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Yeah, it’s sloppy,” McCoy said bluntly. “You look at the whole thing - you have 10 penalties, two turnovers, some big plays were given up.
We weren’t very good on third down offensively… I think it was 2-of-12 or whatever. That’s never going to be good enough.”
The Titans’ offense, which had shown flashes in recent weeks, completely stalled out. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who’s been trying to find his footing, didn’t want to hear about moral victories or incremental progress.
“I mean, I am big on results,” Ward said. “Wins and losses are the only things I care about.
Strides? We haven’t made any strides.
We’ve got the same outcome for the last couple of weeks. So, it’s more about winning a football game now, it doesn’t matter how it gets done.”
That kind of frustration is understandable. The Titans are in a full-blown rebuild mode, and while some young players are getting valuable reps, the growing pains are real - and painful. Until they can turn competitive moments into wins, the locker room isn’t going to feel like it’s moving forward.
Looking Ahead
With the Texans heating up behind Stroud’s steady hand, the Colts trying to hold things together amid key injuries, and the Titans searching for answers, the AFC South is shaping up to be a tale of three very different teams. December football is here - and for two of these squads, every snap could define their season. For the third, it’s about finding any sign of hope in a long, frustrating year.