Training Camp Preview: AFC South

Wed Jul 20 10:16am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Titans need Henry back healthy


This is the third in a series of training camp previews. The previews give you a quick look at each team, going over position battles and injuries to watch in camp. The season is right around the corner.

Titans

The Titans had another great season last year but came up short in the playoffs. Tennessee certainly has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but can’t seem to get over the hump. Will this be the year? The team might be running out of time with Derrick Henry another year older. The window could be closing, making this camp an important one to see if this team can take one more step forward. That Titans hold training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn.

Position battle: The Titans traded their No. 1 receiver, A.J. Brown this offseason, leaving some big shoes to fill at receiver. The team did bring in Robert Woods and Treylon Burks to help fill that void. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine also will be in the mix to start, though, do don’t discount him. All three players will battle it out for the right to start in Tennessee. Burks is the projected top receiver but missing workouts this offseason didn’t help matters for him. He had some asthma issues, causing him to miss time. And Woods is recovering from a torn ACL, so nothing is certain with this receiver room right now. It should get sorted out this training camp. 

Injury watch: Derrick Henry missed half of last season because of a foot injury, which required surgery. This is a serious injury to return, but Henry has looked great in offseason workouts and looks back to 100 percent. This is still an injury to watch going forward. Just make sure he is back to his old self in camp and preseason action before using a high draft pick on him this year. 

Colts

The Colts made a change at quarterback once again this offseason. Indy traded for Matt Ryan and dealt Carson Wentz after just a season. The Colts hope Ryan can steady the ship at quarterback and take this team to a new level. Ryan certainly has the track record to help this team reach new heights. So much of the focus of this camp will be getting Ryan up to speed in the offense. Ryan and the offense will get going at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.

Position battle: Michael Pittman is the No. 1 receiver for the Colts, but the starter opposite him is up for grabs. Parris Campbell and rookie Alex Pierce should challenge for that other starter spot. Campbell has performed well on the field but hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Pierce is a very talented rookie, but could need some seasoning before he is ready to jump into a starting role. This one is really up for grabs.

Injury watch: Parris Campbell has played 15 games in three seasons. He has a world of talent and has produced when on the field, but he can’t stay healthy. He is returning from foot surgery this time. His health will be a big thing to watch this training camp for the Colts. Campbell can be a difference maker for the offense, but needs to be on the field.  

Jaguars

The Jaguars were a disaster last year because of a coaching situation that didn’t work out. The team made changes to the coaching staff once again, hoping this is the right fit. Training camp will be a good time for the coaching staff to get the team on the same page. Plus, the Jaguars made a lot of changes to the roster this offseason, hoping to find new talent for franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. There is a lot of new in Jacksonville, which should make for an intriguing training camp. Jacksonville trains at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla.

Position battle: The Jaguars added plenty of playmakers offensively this offseason. The receiver spot really looks different with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones added to the mix. Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault are still around, though, and will look for playing time. These four players should battle it out for playing time this camp and preseason. 

Injury watch: Travis Etienne missed his entire rookie season because of a Lisfranc injury suffered during the preseason. He is well on his road to recovery and should be all systems go for training camp and the start of the season. As long as he is healthy, Etienne will play a huge role for the Jaguars offense. He has a load of talent and can be used on a variety ways offensively. 

Texans 

Houston had another tough season last year, leading to another change to the head coach. Veteran Lovie Smith will look to get this team going in the right direction. The good news is the Texans have a lot of young talent and competed hard last year. This team might not be as far off as many think. We will get a better idea during training camp and preseason action, though. Houston holds training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Texas. 

Position battle: The Texans are looking for a No. 1 running back. The team drafted Dameon Pierce but he is not going to be handed the job by any means, especially since he was a fourth-round pick. Marlon Mack might be No. 1 on the depth chart right now, followed by Rex Burkhead. It would seem Pierce has the best chance to emerge, but Mack could be the one to open the season as the starter. 

Injury watch: Marlon Mack has a chance to be the starter for the Texans, but will need to be healthy and at full strength to win that job. He has played six games the last two seasons. Last year he was a healthy scratch much of the season, but injuries have always been an issue for Mack throughout his career. They are always going to be a concern going forward for Mack. Hopefully, he has a clean camp and can earn a big role with the team.  

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 11:13pm ET
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Julian Blackmon Mar 18 6:30pm ET
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Rico Dowdle Mar 18 6:30pm ET
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The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday. With Tony Pollard moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, Dowdle is now No. 1 on the Cowboys' RB depth chart, for now. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina entered the league in 2020 with the Cowboys and has just 96 carries for 385 yards and two rushing touchdowns in his three NFL seasons, adding 17 receptions (22 targets) for 144 yards and two more touchdowns through the air. Eighty nine of his career carries came in 2023, when he rushed for 361 yards and two TDs in 16 regular-season contests. Depending on what Dallas does at the position in the upcoming NFL draft, Dowdle could see a substantial role increase in his fourth NFL campaign.

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Tavierre Thomas Mar 18 6:20pm ET
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Houston Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hamstring) to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to a league source. Thomas will move to the NFC after spending the first six years of his NFL career in the AFC with the Cleveland Browns and Texans. In nine games (five starts) last year in Houston, Thomas had 51 tackles (30 solo) and two forced fumbles before a hamstring injury cut his season short in Week 14. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Ferris State will be an option at nickel cornerback for the Bucs in 2024 while also contributing on special teams. He won't be on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues. Thomas has a total of 225 tackles (144 solo), one sack, six tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), six passes defended, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 81 career games (22 starts).

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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 6:10pm ET
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Chase Young Mar 18 6:10pm ET
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Malik Nabers Mar 18 5:00pm ET
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Taron Johnson Mar 18 4:50pm ET
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Michael Davis Mar 18 4:30pm ET
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John Jenkins Mar 18 1:00pm ET
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Tua Tagovailoa Mar 18 12:40pm ET
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The Miami Dolphins re-signed offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (quadriceps) to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O'Dare. Wynn will return to South Beach for his second season with the team. He started seven games for the Dolphins last year before landing on Injured Reserve with a quadriceps injury. The 28-year-old former 23rd overall pick of the New England Patriots in 2018 out of Georgia was great in pass protection for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before his season-ending injury, but he proved to be a liability as a blocker for the running game. Wynn has started 47 of the 50 games he's played in his career through five NFL seasons, but he's going to need to improve his run-blocking if he wants to continue in a starting job on Miami's offensive line in 2024.

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Noah Igbinoghene Mar 18 12:40pm ET
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The Washington Commanders signed free-agent cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to an undisclosed deal on Sunday, according to a source. Igbinoghene represents a depth signing for Washington's secondary, and he can also contribute on special teams. The 24-year-old former 30th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins out of Auburn has started just five of the 37 games he's appeared in over his four NFL seasons with the Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, so he certainly hasn't lived up to his first-round pedigree. He was traded from Miami to Dallas before the 2023 season and didn't record any stats in the five games he appeared in for the Cowboys. Igbinoghene is following former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to D.C.

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Joey Slye Mar 18 12:20pm ET
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Washington Commanders free-agent kicker Joey Slye signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, according to a source. The Jaguars initially were reported to have signed Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz this offseason, but that turned out to be false and Lutz re-signed with the Broncos. The Jaguars also have Riley Patterson, who they signed to a futures deal, so Slye and Patterson figure to be in competition for the primary kicking gig in Jacksonville in training camp this summer. The 27-year-old Slye has made only 82.3% of his field-goal attempts in five seasons in the NFL. In 17 games for the Commanders last year, he went 19-for-24 on field goals and 32-for-35 on his extra-point tries. Fantasy managers will be able to find better options at the position.

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Eric Kendricks Mar 18 12:20pm ET
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The Los Angeles Chargers and free-agent veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal on Sunday, according to a source. Perryman was the Chargers' second-round pick in 2015 out of Miami of Florida and was with the team in San Diego and LA from 2015-2020. In his six seasons with the Bolts to begin his NFL career, the 31-year-old had 250 solo tackles, five sacks, 26 tackles for loss, eight QB hits three interceptions, six passes defended, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 69 games (51 starts). His best season came in 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders, though, when he had a career-high 154 combined tackles in 15 starts to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. Perryman hasn't been as good the last two years with the Raiders and Houston Texans, although he'll be providing a veteran presence for the Chargers after Eric Kendricks moved on in free agency.

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Dak Prescott Mar 18 12:10pm ET
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Alexander Mattison Mar 18 12:10pm ET
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Free-agent running back Alexander Mattison is visiting with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to sources. Multiple teams are in play for Mattison this point after he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. Mattison took over the Vikings' lead-back role in 2023 after the team moved on from Dalvin Cook, but Mattison didn't impress with the extra playing time, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on a career-high 180 rushing attempts while running for 700 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). He added 30 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 44 targets. The Raiders didn't re-sign Josh Jacobs, so as of right now, Zamir White is their RB1 this offseason. If Mattison where to sign with Vegas, he'd most likely be involved in some sort of timeshare with White.

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