The AFC has a few notable training-camp and roster updates floating around, and the biggest theme is that teams are still sorting out roles, recovery, and expectations as the season gets closer.
In Jacksonville, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said most of Travis Hunter’s reps have been coming on defense. Gladstone described that split as part of a larger process, noting, “I think from Travis’s perspective, I think that’s a great work in progress, knowing that he’s put a lot more focus on the defensive side down the back end of training camp stretch and still getting his plays on offense, but really settling in so that that defensive backfield can have the continuity that it needs.”
Houston also had injury news involving Tank Dell. Texans GM Nick Caserio said Dell is close to returning, which is why the team placed him on injured reserve.
Caserio said, “I’d say he’s close,” and added, “He is not quite there, which is why he’s in the category that he’s in. I think we’ll have a better idea with a lot of these guys after four weeks or four games, whatever it is.
I’d say he’s definitely closer now than he was - let’s say in training camp. There’s a little bit more work that remains.
Overall, he’s in pretty good spirits. There are certain things we just have to see.
Some of this too, is honestly for him mentally to make sure he has enough confidence so that he can go out there and perform the way he’s capable of, the way he knows how to.”
In Tennessee, Jeffery Simmons spoke about how his mindset has changed as he’s grown into a leadership role with the Titans. The defensive lineman said his focus is no longer on chasing personal numbers, but on staying locked in on the team’s needs.
“When I step on the field, I don’t care about anything else but how can I be the best for my team?” Simmons said.
He explained that earlier in his career he would set individual targets like sacks and tackles for loss, but that approach could pull him away from the bigger picture. Now, he said, the goal is to stay in the moment, make the play when it’s there, and trust that the opportunities will come even when opponents try to account for him with extra attention.
In Other News...
Jaguars Cuts Are Already Creating A Post-Roster Debate
The Jaguars roster trim is in the books, and the next wave of conversation is already focused on who stayed in the organization and who got away. Jacksonville got to 53 players and then quickly filled out its practice squad with 17 additions, keeping several waived players in the building as the team tried to preserve continuity after cut-down day.
Even so, the list of former Jaguars is starting to spread across the league. Yasir Abdullah landed with the Atlanta Falcons on their 53-man roster, while Chuma Edoga, DeeJay Dallas, Patrick Herbert and Jalen Hunt have already turned up on other practice squads or remain free agents, with landing spots including Baltimore, Minnesota and Los Angeles. For a team trying to sharpen the back end of the roster, the early debate is less about the final cut itself than whether Jacksonville gave up too much talent before the waiver claims and practice-squad shuffle settled. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Could Have One More Tough Roster Decision Before Week 1
James Gladstone has already been active on the trade front for Jacksonville, moving quarterback Quinn Ewers and tight end Hunter Long in separate deals as the team continues shaping the roster ahead of Week 1. With the opener closing in, the Jaguars still have a few spots that could prompt more movement, especially as they weigh depth, health, and how the offensive line and linebacker groups line up once the final roster picture gets clearer.
One of the names to watch is Walker Little, whose status could become part of a bigger decision if Cole Van Lanen is back from injury and ready to factor in. On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville could also look outside the building for help at linebacker, with New Orleans Pete Werner mentioned as a possible target if the Jaguars decide they need more depth there. For a front office that has already shown a willingness to deal, the final stretch before Week 1 may not be quiet. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have A Practice Squad Battle That Could Matter Fast
The Jaguars 17-player practice squad is worth a closer look because it is not just filler for the middle of the season. It is the next layer of depth behind a roster that will inevitably be tested, and the group includes a mix of players who could be asked to help on special teams or step into bigger roles if the active roster thins out. Names like Jabbar Muhammad, Nick Mullens and Jack Kiser stand out because each brings a different kind of value, whether it is positional insurance, experience or the kind of versatility coaches tend to keep close.
What makes this group interesting is how quickly a practice-squad decision can become a roster decision in Jacksonville. Injuries, performance swings and special teams needs all create openings, and the Jaguars appear to have several players who could be next in line if those doors open. The conversation is less about who is guaranteed to move up and more about which players are positioned to make the jump first, which is exactly why the practice squad matters so much for a team trying to manage the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]