The NFL season is just 15 days from kickoff, so it’s time to turn the page to the AFC as our SAN division previews continue. The AFC South was not very competitive last season, with the exception of the Houston Texans. That means lots of changes.
Why did the Colts name QB Daniel Jones as the starter?
The Indianapolis Colts announced Tuesday that former New York Giants star Daniel Jones will be the starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson, the 4th overall pick in 2023. Jones was cut by the Giants last year after six ineffective seasons. Colts head coach Shane Steichen said of the decision, “He’s the starting quarterback for the season, I don’t want to have a short leash on that.” Steichen wants consistency under center, and Jones is known for being even keel.
“Practice will change a little bit, but from my approach and my preparation…all that stuff stays the same,” Jones said. “And I’ll try to be as consistent as I can with all that. So, I’m fired up. I’m excited.”
The Colts will need that consistency if they want to hang around with the Houston Texans all season long. The Texans owned the South in 2024 and also beat the Los Angeles Chargers in a Wild Card playoff game. They won’t need much help to win the division again, but just to make sure they’re seeing progress in training camp, they’ve scheduled some practices with the Detroit Lions this week. The Texans play a preseason game against the Lions Saturday.
“We know they were one of the top teams in the NFL last year,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Just to get a chance to go up and compete against a really nice team, good team, and see how do we show up, right? I’m excited to see how our players show up in Detroit.”
Who could be breakout players in the AFC South?
The Texans will take a good look at offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, their second-round pick from Minnesota. The rookie is slated to be a starter and tops our list of players that could break out in 2025.
The Colts gained strength in the secondary with the free agent signing of former San Francisco 49er cornerback Charvarius Ward. He and new safety Cam Bynum should help lock things down.
The top two picks in April’s draft are also on the list of breakout players in the AFC South. Cam Ward and Travis Hunter have been under the microscope since the day they arrived, and that scrutiny will increase as the season plays out.
How have Cam Ward and Travis Hunter performed so far?
Ward struggled in his second preseason game, completing only two of his seven pass attempts against the Atlanta Falcons. He has had an up-and-down camp learning the NFL game, but he sounds like a starter when describing the communication he has with his receivers.
“If I want you to run this route at this depth, this certain type of way, you better get there,” Ward said. “If not, you’re not going to get the ball. So those guys, they know that. We’re all mature in our receiver and quarterback group, and they know what I expect out of them. And they have high standards for me.”
There are high standards for Travis Hunter in Jacksonville as well. He has split time at defensive back and receiver during camp, but is dealing with an upper-body injury and has missed some time. He did not suit up in the Jaguars’ second preseason game, but in a recent scrimmage, he ran 17 plays as a receiver on offense and 16 plays at corner on defense.
We’re about to find out how much of an impact one player can make with Daniel Jones, Cam Ward and Travis Hunter hoping to knock off the Texans in the AFC South.
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Author: Alex Delia
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