The AFC’s latest round of notes had a little bit of everything: a legend being talked out of a front-office return, a wide receiver on the verge of his first game in nearly a year, and a cornerback sounding openly frustrated about how his role has changed.
In Indianapolis, ESPN’s Adam Schefter poured cold water on the idea that Peyton Manning would seriously entertain the Colts’ general manager opening.
“ I believe that that job is beneath Peyton Manning, ” Schefter said, via Broncos Wire. “ You think Tom Brady would come back as a GM, or you think he would come back as an owner?
His family’s in Denver. His kids are there.
I don’t think he wants to go run a day-to-day organization. As much money as he’s made in football, as much money as he’s made post-football, why is he uprooting his family to go run a day-to-day operations of a football franchise?”
Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was also asked about the buzz surrounding the job after the team moved on from GM Chris Ballard. His response stayed pointedly in the present.
“Right now, I’m just focused on the Vikings.”
In Houston, the big news is Tank Dell getting ready to step back onto the field for the first time since December 2024, when he suffered a catastrophic knee injury. Dell made it clear he isn’t spending much time worrying about how the first hit will feel.
“I know it’s a lot of questions, like, ‘How he gonna look when he gets tackled?'” Dell said, via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.
“I don’t care about none of that. I’m ready to get tackled.
I’m gonna be joyful. Y’all gonna see the passion I have after I had that first catch.”
Dell also said the wait has him anxious, but not overwhelmed as Week 7 approaches.
“I’m blessed,” Dell said. “I want to thank God for getting me back in this position.
But I don’t think I’m overwhelmed. I’m anxious, of course, but I don’t think I’m overwhelmed.
I’m anxious to get back out there and play some football.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the priority is simply getting Dell back involved, without turning his workload into the headline.
“It’s just getting Tank back out there after missing two years of football,” Ryans said. “That’s the main thing.
Him just going out playing ball. I don’t care how many reps he gets.
But I’ll have my Tank Dell jersey on.”
In Tennessee, Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor said his role has shifted from what he believed was coming when he arrived.
“ Yeah, I was told that I would come here to play corner. Um, and that’s what my mentality was.
Um, but now, um, things are changing, and I’ll just adapt, ” he said, via Titans Wire. He also said the scheme and role are “ different than anything I’ve played.
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In Other News...
Titans Loss Just Fueled Another Brutal Officiating Debate
Sundays game in Nashville left the Titans with more than just a frustrating result. Several officiating misses turned into a loud subplot, including a missed false start on a key play, a facemask penalty that went uncalled on a third-down sack, and what appeared to be a missed touchdown by quarterback Cam Ward.
Those kinds of moments are the ones that linger long after the final whistle, especially when they stack up in one game. The reaction on social media was immediate, and for Tennessee, the bigger issue is less about one blown call than what it says about the leagues consistency when games are hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Offered A Frustrating Explanation For That Late Titans Miss
In a game that asked for precision in the biggest moments, Cam Ward had one throw get away from him late against the Browns, missing a wide-open Daniel Bellinger in what could have been a major connection for the Titans. Ward later said the issue was excitement, a candid explanation from a quarterback who otherwise kept competing through a choppy afternoon in which he finished 15 of 29 for 142 yards, with an interception and three sacks.
The encouraging part for Tennessee was that the miss did not linger. Ward settled back in quickly and delivered key passes later in the drive, showing the kind of response the Titans need from their rookie quarterback when a play slips away. Still, the sequence was a reminder that for all the flashes, the margin for error in a close game can be painfully thin, especially when a clean opportunity is sitting right there. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Just Claimed The NFL Spot Every Contender Wants
After Week 7, the NFL picture has a strange kind of clarity, with Minnesota standing alone as the leagues only undefeated team and the Chargers still searching for their first win. Los Angeles had a bye, but the off-field reality around that team has not changed much, with injuries and uneven play continuing to define its season. For the Titans, the broader league context only sharpens how quickly things have turned in the wrong direction.
Tennessees own slide has reached 1-6, and the frustration inside the building is starting to show. Head coach Robert Saleh has voiced his displeasure with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a sign that the Titans are no longer just battling losses but also the strain those losses can create behind the scenes. With the season already tilting away from them, the next stretch will test whether this team can steady itself before the disconnect grows any wider. [Read more 🡒]