INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Darius Leonard and Quenton Nelson

made a quick impression on their veteran teammates.The first time the Indianapolis Colts wore pads at training camp https://www.coltsfanshop.com , longtime left tackle Anthony Castonzo watched Nelson, the new left guard, stop defensive linemen cold on successive plays. Andrew Luck got a glimpse of Leonard's skills when the new linebacker leapt in the air, twisted his body and picked off his pass.The veterans knew instantly this rookie class would be different. On Friday, Leonard and Nelson were rewarded for their remarkable debut seasons by becoming the second set of rookie teammates to be voted to The Associated Press All-Pro team. Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus were the other players to achieve first-team status in 1965, and both went on to have Hall of Fame careers with the Bears."In both cases they bring a lot of juice into the meeting room, into the weight room. They have infectious leadership qualities," first-year coach Frank Reich said. "Their love for the game, their love to compete at the highest level I just think is very infectious and you love their confidence to be able to just let that loose."It happened quicker than expected.While analysts generally regarded Nelson as a star down the road when the Colts took him No. 6 overall in April's draft, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound guard was immediately penciled into the starting lineup and started showing flashes of what he could do. When the pads went on, Nelson turned up the intensity and became a smash hit.His nasty attitude set the tone for the Colts' offensive line, and he teamed with Castonzo and center Ryan Kelly, Indy's first-round picks in 2011 and 2016, to change the team's reputation. As a result Indianapolis Colts Customized Jerseys , Indianapolis (10-6) allowed a league-low 18 sacks this season after giving up a league-high 56 in 2017. Marlon Mack rushed for 100 yards four times — the most by a Colts running back in 11 years — and the Colts reached the playoffs for the first time since 2014.Now the honors are piling up, too.Nelson became the first Colts offensive linemen chosen to the Pro Bowl since Jeff Saturday in 2010, Indy's first rookie Pro Bowler since Marshall Faulk in 1994, and the first guard to make it since Ron Solt in 1987. Now, he's the first Colts' All-Pro linemen since Saturday in 2007.Castonzo knew it was possible right from the start."The first morning (of practice) at camp, he went in and absolutely stoned somebody just locked him down. I don't even know who it was," Castonzo told the AP. "Then he did it again on the next play and you knew it wasn't a fluke."Leonard faced a more daunting challenge after starring at South Carolina State, an FCS school.General manager Chris Ballard became a fan after watching Leonard make 19 tackles against eventual national champion Clemson in 2016. He didn't wait long to take Leonard, selecting him with the first of four second-round picks, No. 36 overall.Leonard's transition was delayed, too. He worked out at the combine despite a quadriceps injury, and was held out of offseason workouts when he tweaked the muscle. Naturally, Leonard felt like he was behind when he arrived at training camp. But he turned heads at camp with his interception — and never stopped.He wound up setting a franchise-record with a league-leading 163 tackles and had seven sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions despite missing one game with a knee injury. He's the first Indianapolis linebacker to be voted All-Pro since Robert Mathis won the league's sacks title in 2013.How'd he make the transition so smoothly?"You feel behind, but you know that's when I got with coach (Matt) Eberflus and coach (Dave) Borgonzi every morning Indianapolis Colts T-Shirts ," Leonard said. "We were doing everything, just spent more time going over everything in the morning (before practice)."It worked.Ballard issued a statement in which he took no credit for hitting the jackpot with his first two draft picks, though he certainly understands the magnitude of the feat after spending his first 12 NFL seasons in the Bears' scouting department."We are thrilled for Quenton and Darius and they are both deserving of All-Pro recognition," he said. "Both will also be the first to credit their teammates for the honor. That's a testament to the unique culture that has been developed in our building." INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson faces a different challenge Sunday.Yes, he’s up against a young defense that is pressuring quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and improving by the week. Sure, he hopes to end the league’s longest losing streak by giving the winless Texans their first victory since November.While Watson won a lot in college and even as an NFL rookie, now he must figure out a solution to the Texans’ woes.“If the tables are turned and we’re 3-0, you wouldn’t really be talking about the little details, you would kind of continue to do the same thing,” Watson said. “Once you start losing and you really want to find out what the problem is, it’s the little things.”The norms have been out of whack for both teams lately.Houston’s trademark defense actually ranks behind the Colts in many key categories, while Indy’s traditionally strong offense has lacked big plays and late-game magic. The AFC South’s two perennial powers are seeking solutions in a competitive division led by Jacksonville and Tennessee.“It’s about better execution, more consistency,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “Whenever you look — any team goes through the same thing when you have a day that is subpar.”Houston (0-3) has had plenty of bad days in its nine-game skid https://www.coltsfanshop.com/hats , which includes back-to-back losses to an Indy team without Andrew Luck last season. So have the Colts (1-2), who missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons and are still trying to rediscover their offensive groove as Luck closes out his first month since returning from major shoulder surgery.But the only real cure is a win — and both desperately need one.“We’ve got to get better, bottom-line business,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “We have to win. We all understand that. (Team owner) Bob (McNair) has made it very clear to me that we need to improve.”Other things to consider for Texans-Colts:BACKUP PLANWhen the Colts hired Reich in February, he joked that he did his best work as a No. 2 option.This week he was reminded of one of his best games — engineering the largest comeback in NFL history with the Buffalo Bills. Even though it happened in January 1993 and even though it occurred against a different franchise, the Houston Oilers, Reich still cherishes the comeback.“It was a great memory, a great memory for the people in Buffalo anyway,” he said on a conference call with Houston reporters this week. “You get some breaks, it all works together, and you did something special that you all share together. Over the years, it’s been really fun. Still, quite often, people stop me, call me Indianapolis Colts Hoodie , all over. So, that’s fun.”PASSING FANCYWatson has thrown for 300 yards in back-to-back games, the first time a Houston quarterback has done that since 2012. He’s not the only one relishing this week’s matchup.In nine career games against the Colts, All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins has 48 career receptions for 648 yards in nine career games against the Colts. Both numbers are in his top three against an opponent.Meanwhile, Will Fuller has caught a TD pass from Watson in seven straight games when they’ve played together.RECORD WATCHColts kicker Adam Vinatieri needs one field goal to break Morten Andersen’s career record (565) — just a short drive away from Andersen’s high school alma mater, Ben Davis. That’s not all.Vinatieri needs three field goal attempts to pass Gary Anderson (672) for second on the NFL’s career list; 34 points to break Andersen’s career scoring record (2,544 points); and one game played to pass George Blanda (341) for fourth in career games played.JACKSON TRIBUTEThe Indianapolis Colts will honor the late Edwin Jackson with a helmet decal. Colts coaches will wear a similar lapel pin.Team officials also will present a $25,000 donation to the Edwin Jackson 53 Foundation, which was formed following Jackson’s death earlier this year. There will be a video tribute and a special game program, too.Jackson made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2015 and played three seasons in Indy before being killed in a February traffic accident. Jeffrey Monroe also died in the accident.“He was a happy, happy, happy man. He was a joy to be around,” Luck said. “I think a lot of guys that know him in this locker room keep him alive in their heads and in their souls. I certainly find myself thinking about him at different times and he was such a positive member of this team.”