AFC South: Tutan Reyes
Potential unrestricted free agents: CB Dunta Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, RB Chris Brown, DT Jeff Zgonina, G Chester Pitts, S Brian Russell, S Nick Ferguson, LS Bryan Pittman, LB Chaun Thompson, QB Rex Grossman, LB Khary Campbell, G Tutan Reyes, T Ephraim Salaam, P Matt Turk.
Potential restricted free agents: DL Tim Bulman, S John Busing, OT Rashad Butler, TE Owen Daniels, RB Ryan Moats, S Bernard Pollard, LB DeMeco Ryans, G Chris White.
Franchise player: None.
What to expect: I don’t think the Texans will jump out and make any monumental moves. But by deciding not to tag Robinson they created another hole and saved themselves big dollars. With needs at corner, running back, free safety, interior offensive line and defensive tackle they may have more than they can address in one draft. That means they could jump out for one significant free agent – like they did last year with defensive lineman Antonio Smith -- and maybe another less expensive one or two.
Indianapolis Colts
Potential unrestricted free agents: MLB Gary Brackett, K Matt Stover.
Potential restricted free agents: WR Hank Baskett, S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, OL Dan Federkeil, CB Aaron Francisco, LB Tyjuan Hagler, CB Marlin Jackson, CB Tim Jennings, DT Antonio Johnson, OT Charlie Johnson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DT Dan Muir, CBPR T.J. Rushing.
Franchise player: None.
What to expect: Brackett is priority one and the team has indicated a plan to pay him as an upper-echelon guy. The restricted list includes a lot of key guys who will remain big factors next year. Indy is not a team that looks to bring in many outsiders for big roles and it won’t start now. Bill Polian’s said the Colts will sit back and see how things unfold in the new capless landscape.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Reggie Hayward, G Kynan Forney.
Potential restricted free agents: DT Atiyyah Ellison, LB Clint Ingram, DL Greg Peterson.
Franchise player: None.
What to expect: The Jaguars are draft-reliant, but will also shop for bargains in free agency, hoping to plug a couple holes with high-character guys with upside who fit what they are doing. As for a big splash, it’s unlikely based on their recent busts with big-name free agents like Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence and the direction they’ve moved since.
Tennessee Titans
Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, C Kevin Mawae, LB Keith Bulluck, TE Alge Crumpler, CB Nick Harper, CB Rod Hood, DE Jevon Kearse, S Kevin Kaesviharn.
Potential restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball, DT Tony Brown, TE Bo Scaife, LB Stephen Tulloch, DT Kevin Vickerson, RB LenDale White.
Franchise player: None.
What to expect: The Titans will undergo a youth movement, especially on defense where Vanden Bosch and Bulluck, who’s recovering from ACL repair, are going to be allowed to walk. Mawae been told his only chance to return is as a backup at a backup price. Brown, Scaife and Tulloch are important guys they’ll want to retain. Beyond that, expect mostly bargain shopping.
Tennessee
- Receiver Justin Gage
- Running back Javon Ringer
- Returner Alvin Pearman
- Linebacker David Thornton
- Linebacker Colin Allred
- Tackle Troy Kropog
- Defensive end Jevon Kearse
- Defensive tackle Jason Jones
Houston
- Quarterback Dan Orlovsky
- Receiver/ punt returner Jacoby Jones
- Cornerback Antwaun Molden
- Cornerback Fred Bennett
- Safety Dominique Barber
- Guard Tutan Reyes
- Defensive end Tim Jamison
- Defensive tackle Frank Okam
Schaub, AJ together vs. Colts for first time
INDIANAPOLIS -- On a day when the Colts are recovering from a bad week of injury news, the Texans will have both Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson in a game against Indianapolis for the first time. Ever.
No giant surprises on Houston’s inactive list:
- Quarterback Dan Orlovsky
- Receiver Glenn Martinez
- Cornerback Fred Bennett
- Safety Dominique Barber
- Defensive tackle DelJuan Robinson
- Guard Tutan Reyes
- Tight end James Casey
- Defensive tackle Frank Okam
Norman could be Jags' right guard rest of the way
Since losing starting guard Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams to injuries in the season opener, the Jaguars have started Uche Nwaneri at left guard and Milford Brown and Tutan Reyes at right guard.
In Sunday's win in Detroit, they used their fourth different right guard. Dennis Norman, who's started the first six games at center while the team waited for Brad Meester to return from a biceps injury, replaced Reyes.
And Monday afternoon, Jack Del Rio made it sound as if the team could stick with the current line configuration.
"Anytime you're running and throwing the ball that means that your line has to be doing a good job," he told Jacksonville reporters. "We want to build on what we did yesterday with that group, and I thought it was as good a performance as we've had a while with our offensive line, so glad to see that.
"Dennis Norman got to start at right guard and did a nice job for us. Uche (Nwaneri) continues to improve. Khalif (Barnes) and Tony (Pashos) have been solid and Brad, it looks like conditioning and the game speed and all that that he's had the last few weeks has helped. So it was a better effort."
Can the group maintain that effort or was it largely a result of working against a defense that is part of an 0-9 team? We'll find out Sunday.
Del Rio also praised the play of Daryl Smith at middle linebacker, giving Smith the defensive game ball. Smith shifted inside to play for Mike Peterson who was deactivated after butting heads with Del Rio last week and being sent home Wednesday and Thursday.
That may not be the end of the conflict, as Del Rio indicated Smith might stay in the spot.
"There is some consideration for that if we feel like [Smith] is strong there and we're strong there," Del Rio said. "We'll give that consideration."
Asked multiple times about Peterson's role going forward, Del Rio dodged the questions by indicating he was talking about the team.
"It's not about any one guy," he said.
Before that, of course, he had spoken about 10 other players by name.
Jags O-line coach discusses injuries, surge
Jaguars offensive line coach Andy Heck met with the Jacksonville media today to discuss the state of his unit and all that it's been through this season.
He talked about how the line is a team within a team and how his group got whipped in the loss to Cleveland. He said he likes his guys to play with ferocity, intensity and bad intentions.
While he didn't make excuses regarding three season-ending injuries -- two in the opener -- that have cost him quality people, he did say there are "not many people on this planet that can move somebody as well as Vince Manuwai does."
Two sections of his comments, courtesy of the Jaguars public relations staff:
On recovering from the loss of players to injury:
"Certainly injuries are tough. They're tough for the individuals they happen to, they're tough for the team, but as we all know they're part of football and they occur. This year we had more than our share of injuries, especially in the offensive line. But where we stand is that we have a great group of guys with a lot of character -- guys who care about football, guys who care about their trade. When any injury occurs at any position, somebody has got to step up and that's what guys have done. They've stepped up. The guys around them need to elevate their play, help bring along the guys that are stepping in, and I'm proud of the guys that we've called on. We brought Milford Brown in here off the street and we started him two or three days later, and he did a fine job. Tutan (Reyes) has done a very nice job for us. We've won some game and he's been excellent in pass protection. Uche (Nwaneri), a young player who's grown up and doing a nice job and he's only going to get better. Certainly Dennis Norman, I can't neglect him. This is a guy we've relied on for several years now to win a lot of games with when Brad's (Meester) had some misfortune. Dennis is a true pro, prepares better than anybody in our room. He's a smart guy, of course being an Ivy Leaguer, but he comes every day, he's the same guy every day, and he's been invaluable to our team."
On the lack of surge last week -- was it an off day?
"As an offensive line we take great pride in being able to run the ball, and when things don't go well in that department we take it personally. And every guy in that room, including myself, is looking at, 'How can I do my job better?' And one of the things we need to do better as an offensive line and that I need to get more of is better surge. We need to drive some guys off the ball and give our talented runners some space to run the ball. And that's something we take pride in, that's something that when we don't get that done it stings, and we're working hard to do that and the guys, like I said, take great pride in that and we're going to be working hard to fix that."
Is O-line shuffle ahead for Jacksonville?
After losing their two starting guards on opening day, the Jaguars have used both Milford Brown and Tutan Reyes at right guard while Uche Nwaneri has named left guard.
"It's an opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves and to help the team get wins," Nwaneri said. "It's something we all look forward to, as a young player, you get that chance, you've just got to run with it. And I feel like this line is starting to jell really well."
But when Jacksonville returns to action on Oct. 26 against Cleveland, the offensive line could be reshaped.
Jack Del Rio said center Brad Meester (biceps) should be ready to return and that Chris Naeole could be in line for some time.
Meester's return would also put his replacement, Dennis Norman, in the mix at guard.
Odds are we'll know the lineup when we see it just before the team takes the field against the Browns.
Reyes outplayed Brown last week in practice and got the starting nod, then he wound up playing the entire game instead of sharing time, Del Rio said.
However it shapes up after the bye, the Jaguars can feel pretty good about how they patched things up and forged ahead.
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
NASHVILLE -- The Jaguars prayed for Richard Collier before the game. The backup tackle, in critical condition in a Jacksonville hospital after he was shot Tuesday, remained very much in their thoughts after a 17-10 loss to the Titans as well.
"I think the team did a good job of dealing with the situation, a tough situation," Coach Jack Del Rio said. "You are talking about a family member of our football team in a tough spot fighting through some injuries. I can assure you, in no way is this team looking for any type of alibis. We give the Tennessee Titans credit."
Said right tackle Tony Pashos: "I think Richard is weighing heavily on our hearts and he's in the back of our minds constantly. He's one of our brothers in this and a family member. But we won't say we didn't win today because of that. If anything, we wanted to win for him."
The Jaguars had to use every offensive lineman at their disposal, after right guard Maurice Williams suffered a biceps muscle injury and couldn't play effectively. Uche Nwaneri replaced him at and suffered a sprained knee that forced him out of action. Tutan Reyes replaced him. Then when left guard Vincent Manuwai went down with a knee sprain, Nwaneri returned to play left guard.
The injuries to Williams and Manuwai could be serious, and the Jaguars are likely to be in the market for offensive line help tomorrow. They have an interior lineman, Drew Miller, on their practice squad.
Tennessee's defensive line was dominant, sacking David Garrard seven times and limiting the Jaguars to 33 rushing yards.
Jacksonville can't be the team it was last season without solid and steady offensive line play. That will be tough to get out of a patchwork group.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
