The AFC’s training camps are producing a little bit of everything right now: a quarterback looking fully back, a top rookie being rethought, a young receiver flashing confidence, and a veteran defender ready to line up anywhere.
In Indianapolis, Daniel Jones is drawing strong early reviews from teammates who say he looks as sharp as ever. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox said the quarterback hasn’t shown any signs of rust.
“He looks like he never got hurt,” Alie-Cox said, via Colts.com. “He’s throwing dimes left and right on the field, getting out the pocket, scrambling and different things like that.”
Guard Quenton Nelson echoed that sentiment, calling Jones’ return to the field impressive.
“He’s been incredible. He’s back like he’s never left,” Nelson added.
“He worked so hard to get here. It’s been awesome to see.”
In Jacksonville, the conversation around Travis Hunter has shifted. The Jaguars still want him to play both ways, but they’re now acknowledging that last year’s approach may not have been the best fit. The plan for 2026 is for Hunter to be a major piece at cornerback while also handling a more limited role on offense.
“I think we have a better feel now at what he’s best at and where we need him,” Jaguars HC Liam Coen said via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Where you want him in there is contested [plays], tough catches - trying to get the ball in his hand because he can make you miss in a phone booth. Quick screens, bubbles…
“What that looks like as a rep count, I still have no clue. … He’s got to be able to know X, F, both those positions within the game plan and not the whole playbook.
Third down, red zone, two-minute, specific offense of plays in the normal flow of the game, we will package him in, as opposed to, ‘Look, bro, you’ve got to know the whole offense.’ That was a little much last year.”
The Jaguars are also encouraged by what they’ve seen from Brian Thomas Jr. in camp after a difficult second season. Coen said the receiver has looked different in all the right ways and should be a key vertical threat for Jacksonville.
“I’ve just sensed a different dude in terms of confidence, the way he carries himself, his communication. I am confident in him right now, and I know Trevor [Lawrence] is, too.”
In Houston, Tank Dell is back around the team after the brutal knee injury he suffered in December 2024. DeMeco Ryans said the Texans are taking the cautious route and want to make sure Dell feels good about where he is physically before he’s pushed into full-team work.
“Tank is on the right plan. Every day is based on how he’s feeling. We’ll do the right thing by Tank so he’s feeling confidence when he’s able to step back into full team.”
The Texans also got a setback in practice, with Aaron Wilson reporting that running back British Brooks broke his hand and is looking at a three-week recovery.
In Tennessee, John Franklin-Myers is settling into his first year with the Titans and ninth overall in the league. He said one of the reasons he chose Tennessee was the chance to be moved all over the defensive front in Robert Saleh’s system.
“I consider myself a football player. Truthfully, I’ve done it all, I do it all, and my standard is through the roof.
So, you can put me inside or outside, nose guard, d-end, d-tackle, I don’t care,” Franklin-Myers said, via TitansWire. “I want to win one-on-ones, and play the most physical brand of football.”
In Other News...
Bryce Boettcher Is Making The Colts Face A Tough Camp Decision
A rookie linebacker is turning a quiet training camp competition into one of the Colts more interesting decisions. Bryce Boettcher has stood out during offseason work and camp, drawing notice from coaches for the way he plays physically and attacks the job, enough to put himself squarely in the conversation for a starting role.
The challenge for Indianapolis is that the path is not exactly clear-cut. Boettcher is trying to break through against a veteran with more NFL experience and a built-in edge from working with the defensive coordinator, so the Colts are weighing upside against familiarity as camp moves along. Coaches clearly like what Boettcher has shown, but the job is still there to be won. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Pittman Just Added To A Tough Colts Daniel Jones Debate
Michael Pittman Jr.'s move to Pittsburgh was one of the more practical roster decisions Chris Ballard made this offseason, a salary-cap adjustment that also shifted a draft pick in the Colts' direction. Pittman had carried a high cap hit, and his departure came as Indianapolis continued to reshape the roster around Daniel Jones, who spent last season playing through significant injuries before being rewarded with a new contract.
Even after the trade, Pittman left the door open on what Jones means to the Colts' locker room, calling him one of the toughest players he's been around and pointing to the quarterback's work ethic. For a team still trying to settle its long-term direction under center, those kinds of comments only sharpen the debate around whether Jones is the right answer, and how much of last season's grit should count when the stakes get even higher. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Made Their Bet On Jonathan Taylor Crystal Clear
Jonathan Taylor is now firmly at the center of the Colts offensive plans. Indianapolis has already locked up quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, and the latest move only reinforces how much the organization is leaning into continuity on that side of the ball. Taylors place in the offense has never been in doubt, but the contract picture makes the commitment impossible to miss.
The extension gives Taylor added security and gives the Colts a clearer path forward with the core they want in place. It also signals just how highly the team values his role among NFL running backs, even in a league that often treats the position differently from year to year. For Indianapolis, this is less about making a splash than about drawing a line around who it wants to build around now and into the next phase. [Read more 🡒]