AFC South stock up, down: CJ Stroud QB1 and a disaster for the Titans

The former third-round pick completed 68.3 percent of his passes (41-of-62) and accounted for 615 yards (485 passing, 130 rushing) and four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). His four interceptions are concerning, but he at least showed that he’s coachable and highly motivated to fight for his roster spot. 

With second-round rookie Will Levis missing the last two preseason games due to injury, Willis likely did enough to win the No. 2 job behind Ryan Tannehill, at least to begin the season. Whether he can hold onto it once Levis is healthy is another question.

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars running back: Travis Etienne is the Jags’ unquestioned No. 1 running back, but Bigsby made quite the case for himself as the No. 2 over veteran D’Ernest Johnson and JaMycal Hasty. Bigsby rushed for 159 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry in three preseason games, and he gives the Jaguars something they lack — a bigger, change-of-pace back.

Bigsby is six feet and 210 pounds. Johnson, meanwhile, is 5-foot-10 and 208 and Hasty is 5-foot-8 and 205. The third-round rookie, who had 51 receptions for 364 yards the past two years at Auburn, can be used as more of a receiving threat out of the backfield than the other two.

Stock down

Nathan Rourke, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback: Rourke turned a lot of heads following his preseason debut (9-for-17, 153 yards passing and a touchdown) that included a 21-yard touchdown pass to Qadree Ollison while in the grasp of a Cowboys defender. The throw came after escaping four other pursuers in the pocket. 

Rourke seemed to be on his way to earning a roster spot, but his bid to win the No. 2 job behind Trevor Lawrence was all but squashed in Saturday’s preseason finale against Miami. 

Six-year veteran C.J. Beathard completed 80 percent of his passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, including a 74-yard TD to Tim Jones in the third quarter, and likely cemented his status as top backup. Beathard’s preseason performance (26-for-43, 352 yards, two TDs) was just a tad better than Rourke’s (23-for-35, 348 yards, TD), and he has 25 games' NFL experience on his side as well.

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts running back: The Colts gave Taylor permission to seek a trade but also gave him a deadline of Tuesday at 4 p.m. to get any deal done. Per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, six teams have inquired about trading for Taylor. Two have made offers, including the Miami Dolphins. Yet, it feels like Taylor is just stuck.

Indianapolis is reportedly asking for either a first-round pick or a combination of picks that amount to the value of a first, in a market where RBs are undervalued and underpaid. The Dolphins’ offer was turned down, but the team reportedly feels good about the value it offered and will not amend it. 

If Indy holds firm on a first-rounder, it’s tough to see any team parting with that and paying Taylor what he wants, ensuring the 24-year-old tailback must ride out 2023 playing for an owner who essentially said he’s replaceable.

Tennessee Titans kickers: After making three of his four field goals in Friday’s preseason finale, the Titans released Michael Badgley, making him the third kicker cut by the team over the last month, joining Caleb Shudak and Trey Wolff. 

Tennessee has had one of the most inconsistent kicker rooms in the NFL since 2019, cycling through Badgley, Wolff, Shudak, Cairo Santos, Cody Parkey, Greg Joseph, Ryan Succop, Sam Sloman, Stephen Gostkowski, Randy Bullock, Josh Lambo and Sam Ficken. Whoever the team signs ahead of Week 1 will be the 13th different kicker the Titans have had in the past five years.