Robert Griffin III on ESPN departure, NFL quarterbacks and more
Robert Griffin III is starting a new chapter in his media career. We talk with the former NFL quarterback about expectations for the upcoming season, and his partnership with Snickers.
A pair of sophomore signal-callers will look to get their season started on the right foot when the Houston Texans (0-0) visit the Indianapolis Colts (0-0).
The hype in Houston is reaching astronomical levels after it went from No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to winning the AFC South. C.J. Stroud proved he is one of the fastest-rising quarterbacks in the league, and with Stefon Diggs joining the squad, there are expectations of another playoff run.
Advertisement
Indianapolis was one game away from winning the division, falling to the Texans in Week 18 and missing the playoffs. Still, there’s some buzz going on with the Colts with Anthony Richardson back from injury and out to prove he’s one of the next great young quarterbacks against a divisional foe.
PROP TALK: These are the best prop bets for NFL games this week
Colts vs. Texans odds, moneyline, over/under
The Texans are favorites to defeat the Colts, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Spread: Texans (-3)
Moneyline: Texans (-160); Colts (+130)
Over/under: 49
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Advertisement
FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week
NFL Week 1 odds, predictions and picks
Ravens vs. Chiefs | Packers vs. Eagles | Jaguars vs. Dolphins | Steelers vs. Falcons | Vikings vs. Giants | Panthers vs. Saints | Patriots vs. Bengals | Titans vs. Bears | Cardinals vs. Bills | Texans vs. Colts | Raiders vs. Chargers | Broncos vs. Seahawks | Commanders vs. Buccaneers | Cowboys vs. Browns | Rams vs. Lions | Jets vs. 49ers
Lorenzo Reyes: Texans 21, Colts 20
This should be a tough, highly-contested game. Frankly, it’s going to come down to where Anthony Richardson is after spending most of his rookie season sidelined. Houston should take the next step under C.J. Stroud and coach Demo Ryans, but the Colts are a sneaky good team. Playing at home, against a division rival, I think this is a potential upset spot, so I like the Texans on the moneyline with Indy covering as a hedge.
Tyler Dragon: Texans 27, Colts 21
This matchup features two of the most exciting young QBs in the game. C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson will both make impressive plays in this AFC South dual, but Stroud has the better all-around team. Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon are going to make Houston’s offense more potent.
Advertisement
Safid Deen: Texans 27, Colts 23
Houston put the NFL on notice with its playoff run last season, setting the stage for C.J. Stroud’s second season. The Texans are loaded on offense, and appear primed for a Super Bowl run. And a close win over their division rivals will be a nice start of the season for the Texans.
Richard Morin: Texans 31, Colts 28
I think this one could be a bit of a shootout. It’s one of the few games on the calendar I think is a good candidate for the over.
Jordan Mendoza: Texans 24, Colts 22
Houston has all the momentum in the world to propel it toward another division title. The offense will be exciting to watch, but the Colts also have a plethora of talent going under the radar. Expect this game to come down to the very end, with the Texans sneaking out of Indianapolis with a victory.
MOST VALUABLE BET: Who is the favorite to win NFL MVP in 2024?
Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Advertisement
The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2026 NFL offseason needing to make a decision about the future of quarterback Daniel Jones.
After signing Jones last offseason to a one-year deal in free agency, the Colts liked what they saw from him in 2025. Unfortunately, his season came to an end early after he went down with a torn Achilles.
Before suffering that injury, Jones played in 13 games. He completed 68 percent of his pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while also running for 164 yards and five more touchdowns.
Jones was a free agent entering the offseason. Indianapolis moved quickly to lock him in. The Colts signed the veteran quarterback to a massive two-year, $88 million contract.
Advertisement
Whether or not the move will pay off remains to be seen. It’s a big risk for Indianapolis, but Jones showed the potential of being a legitimate franchise quarterback before the injury occurred.
Colts Under Fire After Huge Daniel Jones Contract Decision
Chris Ballard and the Colts may be confident in Jones’ ability to be their starter moving forward. Not everyone agrees with the contract the team gave him.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport has named the move as one of the worst of the NFL offseason.
“Maybe Jones will be ready for Week 1 despite the severity of the injury. Maybe he can repeat last year’s success despite his struggles in New York. Maybe he’s the next Sam Darnold,” Davenport wrote.
“Or maybe the Colts should have let Jones play out the 2026 season on the transition tag while they saw how all those ‘maybes’ played out.”
Advertisement
Last season, Jones faced a lot of doubt as well. After his rocky tenure with the New York Giants, no one could be blamed for having reservations about the quarterback. However, after the way he played in 2025, Indianapolis feels good about its decision.
Indianapolis Has Had a Wild NFL Offseason So Far
Outside of the Jones move, the Colts have been very busy this offseason.
Along with re-signing Jones, the team also brought back wide receiver Alec Pierce. In order to make that move happen, they had to pay out a four-year deal worth $114 million.
Plenty of other moves have been made as well. Indianapolis traded star linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and added pieces like defensive end Arden Key, defensive end Micheal Clemons, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, among others.
Most recently, the Colts have been hit with a trade request from cornerback Kenny Moore.
Advertisement
Only time will tell how the team’s offseason moves pan out. Indianapolis has taken some risk this offseason and still has holes to fill. However, the Colts looked like one of the best teams in the NFL during the first half of the 2025 season and may not be far off from Super Bowl contention.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — Police are investigating after one person was injured in a shooting at an Indianapolis Kroger store, per WTHR.
Crews were called to the store at 680 Twin Aire Drive on the east side of the city around 7 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found one man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and is now in stable condition.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s preliminary investigation determined the shooting was targeted and started over an argument about Pokémon cards.
A person of interest was detained at the scene, but police say they are still working to confirm if they had any involvement in the shooting.
INDIANAPOLIS — An 86-year-old survived a heavy fire after it ripped through several apartments Sunday morning, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.
This happened inside the independent living section within the Rosegate Commons American Senior Community. Firefighters say the man was slightly hurt, and he told them he heard a smoke alarm sounding for over 30 minutes but dismissed it, believing it was the neighbor’s alarm.
Firefighters arrived on Rosegate Lane, near South Emerson Avenue and East Southport Road, at around 4:45 a.m., and they found heavy fire showing through the roof. Crews were initially unaware the man was still inside the building. After firefighters had been working to put out the blaze for 25 minutes, the man fully awoke and tried to evacuate. As he reached for the front door, the roof collapsed, and burning debris landed on him. He managed to exit through the back of the structure, where he was met by firefighters.
The man and one firefighter were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Advertisement
The fire was brought under control just before 5:30 a.m. Investigators believe the cause may have been electrical in nature, originating in the attic. Of the six apartment homes affected, five are considered a total loss, while one sustained exterior damage. Aside from the injured people, four others were able to escape safely. A parrot was also rescued unharmed.
Firefighters say if you ever hear a smoke alarm go off, never ignore it, especially in the middle of the night. They urge you to get out of the building if you see smoke and fire and call 911.