As the 2026 NFL training camps open, the AFC South presents a fascinating landscape of defending powerhouses, rising contenders, and high-stakes reboots. The division may be the most talented in the entire league top to bottom, and the teams are no longer penciled in wins for non-divisional opponents around the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2025 Record: 13-4)
Fresh off a stunning 13-win turnaround under head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars enter camp aiming to prove their division title was no fluke. Coen last week said in an interview with radio station 1010XL that he “doesn’t have to make up the fire, it’s given to us every day”. Coen hinted to not having to overly motivate the team because they are overlooked by national media.
“look at the NFL Network website and just pop up here and ‘Im‘ curious if I see any photos or anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars.. I think I’ll scroll right on through and I’ll see forty pictures of Caleb Williams, and I wont see a single thing about our players”– Liam Coen.
#Jaguars HC Liam Coen says it's easy to motivate his players because nobody talks about the Jaguars.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 31, 2026
"I look at the NFL website, and see if there's anything on the Jaguars. I think I'll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams. And nothing on us! It's beautiful."
(📽️ @1010XL) pic.twitter.com/WYP1NUvvFe
Well the sound-bite worked and made its way around the league as several news outlets came to Jacksonville to do interviews with the Jaguars top players.
Top Players: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is coming off an MVP-caliber campaign, anchoring an offense alongside star wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and defensive stalwarts Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
Lawrence set career numbers in total touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns in 2025. The former #1 pick is looking to cement his name as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
Dynamic weapon Travis Hunter returns from a knee injury with camp buzz focusing heavily on how extensively he splits time between cornerback and wide receiver. He was one of the players that many outlets interviewed the ladder part of last week.
How many snaps is Travis Hunter going to play this season?
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 2, 2026
"All of them"@Jaguars | @TravisHunterJr | @judybattista pic.twitter.com/9iDeD2r68D
New Additions: The Jags heavily reinforced their tight end room in the draft, selecting Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol to power new multi-tight-end schemes.
Players to Watch: In the backfield, speedster Bhayshul Tuten takes over the primary RB mantle following Travis Etienne’s departure.
Camp Keys To Success:
Josh Hines-Allen has an opportunity to establish himself as an elite pass-rusher in the NFL. In 2023 he had 17.5 sacks showing immense promise. However, in 2024 and 2025 be boasted 8 respectively falling short of double digit numbers. If he and Walker can become consistent double digit sack artists, Jacksonville can mirror what the Texans already have established.
Houston Texans (2025 Record: 12-5)
The Texans remain a team to look out for in the division, boasting a roster designed for a deep postseason run. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans is entering his fourth season. In his first three seasons, Ryans has led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances and won two division titles.
Top Players: Star quarterback C.J. Stroud orchestrates an offense backed by elite defensive terror Will Anderson Jr. and edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
"If we go back and look at some of the games we had, a lot one score games, we win those games we could be on top of the AFC maybe even the best team in the league."
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) July 29, 2026
Texans QB CJ Stroud breaks down to @EvanWashburn why he's confident in this team. pic.twitter.com/JVXgMwLqG0
Anderson is coming off his second consecutive double-digit sack year (11 in 2024 and 12 in 2025). Hunter is also coming off his second consecutive double digit sack season with the Texans (12 in 2024 and 15 in 2025).
The veteran Hunter has 7 double digit sack seasons in 10 years, four consecutive in 2025 with his highest in 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings (16.5). The Texans also resigned their former 2014 first round pick Jadeveon Clowney to bolster the defensive line and pass rush rotation.
New Additions: Houston completely overhauled its offensive line via free agency and the draft—landing veterans Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith alongside rookie center/guard Keylan Rutledge. They also added veteran running back David Montgomery and safety Reed Blankenship.
Players to Watch: Second-year wideout Jayden Higgins is primed for a major breakout as the full-time WR2, while sophomore running back Woody Marks looks to carve out a prominent pass-catching role alongside Montgomery.
Camp Keys To Success:
Stroud has been criticized by national media for his post-season play, yet all the quarterback has done is lead the Texans to the playoffs three consecutive years. The Texans exercised their fifth-year option on Stroud’s contract into 2027. If the team can stay healthy at the wide receiver position, Stroud has the potential to lead the league in passing.
Indianapolis Colts ((2025 Record: 8-9)
Indianapolis headed into camp with a fresh defensive identity under coordinator Lou Anarumo, looking to muscle their way back to the top of the division.
Top Players: Star running back Jonathan Taylor remains the undisputed foundation of the roster. Taylor had 1,585 yards rushing and 18 TDs in 2025.
On defense, pass-rusher and run stuffer DeForest Buckner will anchor up front while Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward are looking to lock down the secondary at opposite corners.
DANGEROUS throw by Daniel Jones 👀@iamSauceGardner was LURKING pic.twitter.com/oHF2ZN1gIj
— Logan Hancock (@ProFanLogan) July 31, 2026
New Additions: The Colts made a splash by drafting dynamic Georgia linebacker CJ Allen high in the second round to help mitigate the loss of longtime tackle-leader Zaire Franklin.
Players to Watch: AJ Haulcy is a player to watch, the 2025 third round pick played for LSU, as well as Houston and New Mexico where he starred as a freshman. He is slotted to replace safety Nick Cross who departed in free agency.
Camp Keys to Success:
With the departure of Michael Pittman Jr, the Colts resigned wide receiver Alec Pierce to a big free agent contract to stay with quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones is coming off an achilles injury suffered last year, while Pierce is rehabbing from ankle surgery this summer. Jones looks healthy in camp so far, as the team looks to build on their hot 8-2 start last year under Head Coach Shane Steichen.
Tennessee Titans (2025 Record: 3-14)
The Titans are leaning heavily into an energetic youth movement under Head Coach Robert Saleh’s defense, hoping to accelerate their rebuild.
Top Players: Star defensive anchor Jeffery Simmons leads the charge on defense, while the franchise anchors its future on the offensive side with 2025 first round pick, quarterback Cam Ward.
Second-year quarterback Cam Ward is a premier breakout candidate now equipped with a vastly upgraded supporting cast.
New Additions: Tennessee grabbed game-changing explosive wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, alongside weapon Wan’Dale Robinson.
Cam Ward has Aaron Rodgers level arm talent. pic.twitter.com/h7sNsIze4i
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) July 31, 2026
Players to Watch: Defensively, physical safety Kevin Winston Jr. is tracking toward a massive second-year leap under Saleh.
Camp Keys To Success:
Quarterback Will Levis made news last week, saying in an interview that he “still believes he is a starting quarterback in the NFL”. That may or may not be true, but the Titans are Ward’s team now. His development with the Titans young receivers, and veterans like Calvin Ridley Jr is critical.
For Jacksonville the big camp question is..
Travis Hunter’s Dual-Threat Usage: After missing the end of his rookie season with a knee injury, Hunter returned to the field in training camp taking a heavy, evenly split rotation of snaps at both wide receiver and cornerback. The coaching staff’s management of his specific workload is a major focal point. What will Hunter play primarily, and how much?
For Houston the big camp question is..
Center and Offensive Line Shuffle: Following a glaring weakness up front last year, the Texans have spent the opening days of camp heavily rotating combinations at center—primarily between returning starter Jake Andrews and rookie high-draft pick Keylan Rutledge—to stabilize protection for C.J. Stroud.
For Tennessee the big camp question is..
Cam Ward’s Sophomore Jump: Backed by an upgraded supporting cast—including high-profile rookie receiver Carnell Tate—quarterback Cam Ward is drawing early camp praise and early buzz as a premier breakout candidate. Can the team find a replacement for Tight End Chigoziem Okonkwo who led the team in receptions last year, and departed for Washington in free agency.
For Indianapolis the big camp question is..
Daniel Jones’ Return to Full Speed: The overarching story in Indianapolis is tracking how quickly Jones can ramp up his activity level and regain mobility following the Achilles and leg injuries that derailed the end of their previous season.
