AFC South

It's reportedly a "real possibility" Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan has played his final NFL down after being benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported Wednesday it's unlikely Ryan plays again for the Colts this season because an injury would put the team at risk of owing him an additional $17 million in 2023, and the $12 million he's already guaranteed next year could send him toward a "quasi-retirement."

Indianapolis acquired Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons, where he'd spent the first 14 years of his NFL career, in March with the hope he could reignite an offense that faded down the stretch in 2021.

Instead, the 37-year-old Boston College product struggled. He'd thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions while playing all seven games during the team's 3-3-1 start before suffering a shoulder injury in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

While the injury was a factor in the Colts' quarterback change, Graziano noted there were already discussions behind the scenes, led by team owner Jim Irsay, about the possibility of switching to Ehlinger in the continued search for an offensive spark.

Now, with the various financial dynamics in play, it's possible Ryan's decorated career comes to a quiet end.

The Pennsylvania native was the ACC Player of the Year at B.C. in 2007 before getting selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

He earned 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and peaked in 2016, when he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player after throwing for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns.

The quarterback's numbers have dipped over the past handful of seasons, however, and "scouts have lamented Ryan's physical deterioration for a few years now," per Fowler.

It'll take several weeks to determine whether the switch to Ehlinger will help the Colts' playoff chances, but head coach Frank Reich said at some point changes are needed.

"At some point as a head coach you have to make hard decisions," Reich told reporters Monday. "You have to work through these things, and they are not easy."

Indianapolis is back in action Sunday when it hosts the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The first look at the Tennessee Titans' $2.2 billion stadium proposal is here.

The Titans released several renderings of their recently approved domed stadium Tuesday, including a hype video posted on social media.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Titans reached a formal agreement on a new stadium last week. The team will use $800 million of its own money to finance the $2.2 billion project, with the remainder of the funds coming from a combination of state bonds and tax increases.

Formal approval is still needed from Nashville's Metro Council to move forward with construction plans.

The Titans still have 17 years remaining on their current lease at Nissan Stadium, which opened in 1999. Despite the building not being particularly old—even under current stadium standards—Nissan Stadium is considered one of the NFL's worst facilities. The Titans have said it would take $1.8 billion in renovations to get it in line with other NFL stadiums.

Still, it's possible the current proposal does not get an automatic green light from the Metro Council. Nate Rau of Axios reported the council has been hesitant to spend additional money on tourism, and it's possible that alterations are made to the agreement for it to move forward.

Given how these things typically go, the Titans will almost certainly get the stadium of their desires sooner or later—even if they wind up having to foot a little more of the bill when all things are said and done.

The Titans are set to become the 11th NFL team with a retractable or fixed dome roof. No team has built an open-air stadium since the San Francisco 49ers opened Levi's Stadium in 2014.

In the wake of a season-ending injury to star rookie running back Breece Hall, the New York Jets reportedly made a swift move to fortify their backfield.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Jets are set to acquire running back James Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars for draft pick compensation. Connor Hughes of SNY reported that Jacksonville will receive a sixth-round pick that can become a fifth-rounder. ESPN's Adam Schefter added that it would be a fifth-round pick if Robinson rushes for 600 yards this season.

Hall's promising rookie season ended when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus injury in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Denver Broncos. The 21-year-old was electrifying in seven games, rushing for 463 yards and four touchdowns with 19 catches for 218 yards and another score. His 681 scrimmage yards rank seventh in the NFL.

Robinson made a name for himself as a rookie in 2020 when he ran for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. His 1,414 yards from scrimmage marked a record for an undrafted player. The 24-year-old had a strong showing last year before he tore his Achilles against the Jets in December.

This season, Robinson has split carries with second-year running back Travis Etienne Jr. He rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries in seven games, reaching 100 yards once, in a Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He carried the ball 12 times or fewer in each of the next four games, including Sunday against the New York Giants when he didn't register a carry despite being active for the game.

Robinson is expected to pair with second-year running back Michael Carter. The Jets typically employed Hall and Carter in two-back sets, but Hall quickly established himself as the No. 1 option. While Robinson is likely to play behind Carter early on, it appears he will have the opportunity to fill Hall's role.

The Jets are one of the surprises of the season with a 5-2 record, but the injury to Hall was a major blow and was coupled with a season-ending torn triceps for standout offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.

The Jets will go for their fifth straight victory when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was seen in a walking boot for his right ankle after Sunday's 19-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Tannehill had struggled at times to establish himself as a high-end franchise quarterback since the Miami Dolphins selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. His 91.7 career passer rating ranks 15th among active QBs, per Pro Football Reference.

He's made some significant strides since taking over as the Titans' starter midway through the 2019 season, however, tallying 76 touchdown passes across 45 appearances over the previous three years. He added six touchdowns and three interceptions in the first five games so far in 2022.

The 34-year-old Texas A&M product made it through his first four professional seasons without missing any games because of injury. After sitting out three contests in 2016, he didn't play at all in 2017 because of a torn ACL suffered during training camp.

A lingering shoulder injury forced him to the sideline in 2018, but he's remained healthy over the past three years.

Rookie Malik Willis will likely receive the first opportunity to fill the void for the Titans. Logan Woodside is in line to take over the backup role with promotion from the practice squad.

Tannehill's stock had fallen dramatically during his time in Miami, but he's gone a long way to reestablish his value in Tennessee. The team's offensive efficiency would likely drop considerably if he's sidelined for an extended period of time.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay offered immense praise for starting quarterback Matt Ryan last week, going so far as to compare his leadership attributes to franchise legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

"I'll tell you, he is a steely-eyed missile man," Irsay told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport at the Fall League Meeting in New York.

"I've been around a lot of leaders, and I'd put him right up there with Peyton Manning. A really outstanding, tough guy who doesn't back down. Often the best in [the] fourth quarter, and you don't ever want to count out Matt Ryan. He's a winner, he's a fighter, and our team is taking on that temperament around him, which is exciting. More will be revealed, no question about it. But we're encouraged, we really are."

The Colts acquired Ryan, who spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, via trade in the offseason.

Ryan and the Colts offense struggled through the first five weeks of the season, with the 15-year veteran committing a league-high 10 turnovers (seven interceptions, three fumbles).

However, the Colts turned things around in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars thanks largely to the 2016 NFL MVP, who threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 comeback win. He notably hit wide receiver Alec Pierce for a 32-yard game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in regulation.

Irsay's reported feelings on Ryan are a far cry from how the organization reportedly felt about his signal-calling predecessor, Carson Wentz.

Per Zak Keefer of The Athletic, Indianapolis was frustrated with his "lack of leadership, resistance to hard coaching and reckless style of play."

In addition, some within the organization were reportedly "finished" with Wentz even before the season ended with back-to-back losses and a 9-8 campaign that landed the Colts outside the playoffs.

That apparently isn't an issue with Ryan given Irsay's public comments. Despite the tough start, Indianapolis has gutted out a winning record of 3-2-1 to begin its 2022 campaign.

All three victories have occurred in comeback fashion. Ryan hit tight end Jelani Woods for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17. He also led the Colts on game-tying (and game-winning drives) in a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos.

The Jags matchup serves as another example of Ryan's late-game abilities, which has helped give Indianapolis a winning record despite some injuries to star players this year (e.g. linebacker Shaquille Leonard, running back Jonathan Taylor).

Indianapolis now has a big matchup Sunday in a road game with the Tennessee Titans. The winner will take sole possession of first place in the AFC South through seven weeks.

The Tennessee Titans and Nashville Mayor John Cooper reached an agreement on funding for a new domed stadium that could cost up to $2.2 billion.

Nate Rau of Axios reported a formal announcement could come as soon as Monday. The Titans will finance about $800 million for the stadium, with the remaining funds being made up of $500 million in state bonds, a 1 percent tax on hotel rentals in Davidson County and additional sales taxes at the stadium and its surrounding businesses.

Nissan Stadium, the Titans' current stadium, was built in 1999 and is considered one of the NFL's worst. The team said Nissan Stadium would need $1.8 billion in renovations to bring it up to modern standards by the end of the current lease in 2039.

Despite the agreement between the team and mayor, it's not a 100 percent lock that the new stadium will begin construction anytime soon. The Titans and Cooper will need approval from Nashville's Metro Council to move forward with the project, and Rau reported the Council has been "leery of more big spending for tourism."

With a whopping 17 years remaining on the Nissan Stadium lease, it's possible the Metro Council drags its feet on approval in hopes of lowering the cost for the state and taxpayers. The Titans do not have much recourse to pressure Nashville into approving the new stadium on their desired timeline.

If approved, the Titans' modernized stadium would continue the recent trend of domed stadiums across the NFL. Levi's Stadium, which opened in 2014, was the last new NFL stadium to not at least have a retractable roof. Ten NFL teams have a retractable roof or fixed-dome stadium, with nine of those opening within the last two decades.

As NFL teams and their cities look to use stadiums during the offseason for concerts and other events, it's looking increasingly like open-air stadiums are on their way out.

The Indianapolis Colts will be without star running back Jonathan Taylor once again, as he is set to miss Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colts officially ruled Taylor out as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Taylor was already forced to sit out Indianapolis' Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football because of the injury he suffered in the team's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The NFL's leading rusher in 2021, Taylor is the focal point of the Colts offense, but he's gotten off to a slow start this year. Through four games this season, he's recorded 328 yards and one touchdown on 81 carries. He also has nine receptions for 44 yards.

Taylor went three consecutive games without scoring a touchdown or rushing for 100 yards. He's averaging 4.0 yards per carry, down from 5.5 in 2021.

A second-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2020, Taylor didn't take long to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the league. After rushing for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, he followed it up with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

The Colts backfield is beaten up going into their second matchup with the Jaguars. Nyheim Hines is also unavailable due to a concussion. Second-year running back Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay will likely split carries, as they did in the Broncos game.

Indianapolis will be looking for revenge after being shutout, 24-0, by the Jaguars in Week 2. The Colts have won two of their last three games.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard suffered a broken nose, in addition to a concussion, in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans, head coach Frank Reich told reporters Tuesday.

Leonard is still dealing with "significant" swelling to the area, and the extent of the damage is unclear.

"He's the heart and soul of who we are," Reich said. "I feel terrible for him. He worked so hard to get back. It means so much to him. The team success means so much to him. That's what I've come to appreciate."

The 27-year-old suffered the injuries on a collision with Zaire Franklin while tackling a Tennessee player during the second quarter. He played just 16 snaps, posting two tackles, before exiting.

It's a tough blow for Leonard, who had just returned to the Colts lineup against the Titans after missing the first three weeks of the season following recovery from back surgery in June.

Losing Leonard is also a tough beak for a Colts team that has struggled through the first four weeks of the season, posting a 1-2-1 record. However, the team's defense hasn't played that poorly, allowing 207.5 passing yards per game and 89.5 rushing yards per game.

Leonard has been a staple in the Colts defense since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft out of South Carolina State. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last three seasons.

The South Carolina native is coming off an impressive 2021 season that saw him post four interceptions, eight pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 122 tackles.

Before the 2021 campaign, Leonard signed a massive five-year, $98.5 million extension with the Colts that ties him to Indianapolis through the 2026 season.

It's unclear when Leonard might return to the Colts lineup. He has already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor wants to play Thursday against the Denver Broncos, but his status remains very much up in the air because of an ankle injury.

"I definitely do plan to play, but if you can't go you can't go," Taylor told reporters Tuesday. "That's why you have to get as much treatment as you can."

Taylor wore a boot on his leg during Tuesday's practice session after he twisted his ankle late in Week 4's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Colts coach Frank Reich said Taylor is not at risk of further injury if he plays Thursday.

"From what I understand, the discussions that I've had, that's not a concern at this point," Reich said. "It's an injury where he's not ready to go right now, but we'll see if he'll be ready to go Thursday night."

Taylor has had a disappointing start to the 2022 season, compiling 328 yards and one touchdown on the ground. After opening the year with a massive 161-yard performance, Taylor's been held under 80 yards on the ground in three straight contests despite a significant workload. He is averaging a full 1.5 yards less per carry in 2022 than he did a year ago.

Even if Taylor manages to play, it's hard to imagine he'll get a full workload. Nyheim Hines would be in line for more work if Taylor doesn't go or is limited.

It's also possible the Colts elevate former Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay from the practice squad.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is set to miss "some time" after reportedly being diagnosed with turf toe, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Burks won't require surgery on the injury, just time to rehabilitate. He was carted off the field during the Titans' Week 4 win over the Indianapolis Colts and was seen wearing a boot on crutches after the game.

It was a concerning setback for the Titans considering they appeared to make the 22-year-old one of the franchise cornerstones for the future when they selected him with the No. 18 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

Burks was part of a wide receiver overhaul in Tennessee this past offseason, as it traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, traded for Robert Woods and didn't re-sign Julio Jones. The rookie has responded to his role with 10 catches for 129 yards in four games.

While the Titans will miss the Arkansas product's presence on the field if he is sidelined following this setback, they will likely rely even more on Woods and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the aerial attack for the time being.