Sizzling AFC South training-camp position battles

With training camps underway, here’s a look at the top position battles to watch for teams in the AFC South:

Houston Texans

WIDE RECEIVER | Robert Woods vs. Nico Collins vs. Tank Dell vs. John Metchie: Quarterback could have been the choice here, but it’s all but assumed C.J. Stroud will be Houston’s No. 1 QB at some point this season. When Stroud takes over the job, he’s going to need one of these four receivers to separate himself as a legitimate go-to option. Woods seems like the obvious choice as he’s the most experienced (14 seasons) and has had 40 or more receptions and 527 yards receiving or more every year since entering the league in 2013. He’s also 31 and showed signs of not being fully recovered from an ACL injury suffered two seasons ago. 

Collins hasn’t been targeted more than 66 times in either of his two seasons. He could be in position for a breakout year with a QB who’s not only accurate, but likes to sling the ball. Dell and Metchie are promising young guns who could form the foundation of a strong passing attack with Stroud for the next decade.

Indianapolis Colts

CORNERBACK | Kenny Moore vs. Tony Brown vs. Julius Brents vs. Darius Rush: With Stephon Gilmore now in Dallas and Isaiah Rodgers handed his walking papers following his indefinite suspension for gambling violations, the cornerback depth will surely be challenged. Moore has started 11 or more games in each of the past five seasons, and he’s the only cornerback on the roster who played more than 125 coverage snaps last season. 

Moore is likely penciled in as the default No. 1 CB, but he could get competition from Brents, who had four interceptions, four passes defensed, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble last season for Kansas State and was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Brown, who played in just three games in 2022 but has 49 games of NFL experience, could factor in as well, as could fifth-round rookie Rush.

Jacksonville Jaguars

LEFT TACKLE | Walker Little vs. Anton Harrison: With starting left tackle Cam Robinson serving a four-game suspension to start the season, the Jaguars appear to be rolling with Little at left tackle and Harrison, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, on the right side. Little has 560 snaps on the left side over the last two seasons, allowing 23 pressures, 16 hurries and four sacks, per Pro Football Focus. 

Keep an eye on Little, though, early in the season. In the first four weeks, he'll face strong pass-rushers DeForest Buckner and Kwity Paye of the Colts, Chris Jones and Felix Anudike-Uzomah of the Chiefs, Will Anderson and Jerry Hughes of the Texans, and Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree of the Falcons. If Harrison has a strong camp and outplays Little, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him at LT and Little moved to the right side.

Tennessee Titans

RIGHT TACKLE | Jamarco Jones vs. Jaelyn Duncan vs. Andrew Rupcich vs. George Fant?: Offensive line is not only Tennessee’s biggest question; it's also the team’s biggest mess as well. The Titans don’t appear keen on moving first-rounder Peter Skoronski, who played tackle at Northwestern, from left guard to tackle while Nicholas Petit-Frere serves a six-game suspension for gambling, leaving a hodgepodge of backup-caliber players to battle it out. Though he missed all of last season, Jones has 36 games of experience (seven starts), and he was recruited at Ohio State by Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. He should be the early front-runner. 

Duncan, a 2023 sixth-round pick out of Maryland, is a dark horse. At 6-foot-6 and 306 pounds, he looks the part, but he’ll have to answer questions about how he’ll hold up against NFL-caliber pass-rushers. Fant is included because although nothing has been officially announced regarding his status, the Titans published a photo of him arriving to their team facility on Tuesday for the start of camp. It appears he’s likely to sign sometime soon. If he does, his 60 career starts make him a logical choice to take over with Petit-Frere sidelined.