AFC South stock up, stock down: Tyjae Spears Spears breaks out, Jags OL in trouble
From Tyjae Spears’s highlight-reel, 33-yard touchdown run to Cam Robinson getting called out by head coach Doug Pederson, here's a look at whose stock is up and whose is down in the AFC South through two weeks of preseason action.
Stock up
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans, running back: Given the team’s history with drafting injured players, a lot of fuss was made when the Titans drafted a running back without an ACL. But through training camp and preseason, Spears has all but silenced his critics.
The 2023 third-round pick had a solid showing in his first preseason game, against the Bears (six carries, 32 yards). He followed it with a brilliant seven-carry, 57-yard outing against the Minnesota Vikings that was highlighted by his impressive 33-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. On that run, he leaped over safety Lewis Cine before bolting to the end zone. Spears is unquestionably the second-best back on the roster behind Derrick Henry, and he may be the future starter.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts quarterback: No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson is the starting QB, but Minshew will keep the rookie on his toes.
Minshew completed all six of his passes for 72 yards in his first preseason game, and he followed it up with an even better performance, completing 13 of 15 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. During the 12-play, 72-yard touchdown drive he led against the Bears, Minshew went 8-for-9 for 68 yards, including the score. Minshew is certainly the best backup QB in the AFC South, and he may have a case as one of the best four QBs in the division.
Will Anderson, Houston Texans edge-rusher: Anderson played just nine snaps and recorded only one tackle in Houston’s preseason opener. Against the Miami Dolphins in the second preseason game, he showed flashes of what made him the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Anderson played just three more snaps than he did the previous game, but he registered a sack, had two big stops in run defense, per Pro Football Focus, and steamrolled Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed in the backfield to get to force a fumble by quarterback Skylar Thompson. Anderson could be primed for a Myles Garrett-like rookie season.
Stock down
Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle: Robinson is suspended for the first four games of 2023 for violating the NFL's PED policy, so it’s not out of bounds to say if anyone needs a strong preseason, it’s him. He was largely unimpressive against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, getting beat regularly and prompting head coach Doug Pederson to say the LT spent too much time on the ground.
In two preseason games, Robinson has played 70 snaps, including 37 pass-blocking snaps, and allowed five pressures, three QB hits and two hurries. With rookie first-rounder Anton Harrison having a solid showing thus far, and several other tackle option on the roster, Robinson may have to fight for his job when he returns instead of having it handed back to him.
Shaquill Griffin, Houston Texans cornerback: Griffin had a rough outing against the Dolphins on Saturday, getting burned twice by Ahmed. The first came in coverage early in the game when Griffin dropped back into the end zone and locked in on receiver Julian Hill. By the time he noticed Ahmed streaking to the corner untouched, he didn’t have enough time to re-set his hips and reverse course to stop the touchdown.
While his second gaffe didn’t allow a touchdown, it allowed Ahmed to turn what should have been a five-yard gain into a 65-yard gain. On a second-and-10 in the second quarter, Griffin went low to try and upend Ahmed as he burst through the line, but the speedy RB hurdled him and raced down the field into scoring territory.
Indianapolis Colts running backs: The Colts have given star running back Jonathan Taylor permission to explore a trade, meaning someone on the current roster will take Taylor’s starting spot should he be dealt. The problem is the options on the roster are not good. And that’s being generous.
No running back rushed for more than 19 yards against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, and collectively the Colts have averaged 3.1 and 4.0 yards per carry in their two preseason contests. Deon Jackson looked to be the early front-runner after his six-carry, 35-yard performance in the preseason opener, but he had just three carries for eight yards on Saturday. If Taylor is indeed traded and another running back doesn’t come back in the deal, it’s going to be a rough year for Colts QBs.
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