Jaguars, Colts try to salvage something from disappointing seasons

Jacksonville (4-12) at Indianapolis (7-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m., EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Colts by 5.

Against the spread: Jacksonville 8-7-1; Indianapolis 9-7.

Series record: Colts lead 27-20.

Last meeting: Jaguars beat the Colts 37-34 on Oct. 6, 2024.

Last week: Jaguars beat the Titans, 20-13; Colts lost at the Giants, 45-33.

Jaguars offense: overall (26), rush (26), pass (23), scoring (T25).

Jaguars defense: overall (31), rush (23), pass (32), scoring (28).

Colts offense: overall (15), rush (8), pass (26), scoring (T16).

Colts defense: overall (29), rush (26), pass (26), scoring (27).

Turnover differential: Jaguars minus-14; Colts minus-5.

DE Travon Walker needs half of a sack to become the second player in team history, joining Calais Campbell, to get double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons. Walker will be without teammate and fellow pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen, who didn't make the trip because of a personal matter.

RB Jonathan Taylor. Even if QB Anthony Richardson (back spasms) returns to the starting lineup, the Colts may not want to risk much with Richardson's health. Either way, Taylor is trying to finish with a flourish. He's rushed for 450 yards and five TDs over the past three weeks and a fourth straight 100-yard game would match a career best.

Colts CB Kenny Moore vs. Jags WR Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas has had a remarkable season. He heads into the game with eighth-highest total yards receiving (1,179) by a rookie in the Super Bowl era and leads Giants WR Malik Nabers by just 39 yards heading into the season finale. But Thomas will be up against Moore, one of the league's top nickel cornerbacks.

The Jaguars will be without left tackle Walker Little (ankle) for the second consecutive week, leaving Cole Van Lanen to start again. LB Ventrell Miller (ankle) and S Darnell Savage (concussion) also could be sidelined again.

While the Colts biggest question remains Richardson, who would not have participated in Wednesday's practice had Indy held a full workout, there are promising indications starting CB JuJu Brents (knee) could return from injured reserve this week.

The Jaguars have won the past three meetings and five of six. ... Jacksonville's third win of the 2022 season, 26-11 in the season finale, knocked the Colts out of the playoffs that season. ... The Jaguars are seeking their second straight season sweep and just the fourth since the two teams became AFC South foes in 2002. ... Indy is 17-6 on its home turf, including five wins in its past six games at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Jaguars have lost 17 of their past 22 games, with three of the wins coming against division foes Tennessee and Indianapolis. ... This could be the final game for Jaguars coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. They are 23-29 in three years together, including 11-6 against the AFC South. Owner Shad Khan has given no indication of what he plans to do, but he skipped a winning locker room last week in what many perceive as him distancing himself from Pederson and Baalke. ... Thomas Jr. needs 21 yards receiving to become the seventh rookie in NFL history to reach 1,200. With 135 yards, he would pass Michael Clayton, Odell Beckham Jr. and Randy Moss for the fifth most by an NFL rookie. ... Travis Etienne needs six receptions to pass Leonard Fournette (134) and move into fourth place in franchise history for most by a running back. ... Walker has at least one QB hit in six consecutive games against Indy. ... Indy was eliminated from playoff contention last week and will miss the postseason for the fourth straight season. ... The Colts have lost two of their past three games. ... Richardson already has set a single-season franchise record for TD runs by a quarterback (six) and needs two more to surpass Jacoby Brissett (11) for No. 5 on Indy's career list. ... Taylor has 23 100-yard games and needs one more to tie Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson for second in Colts history. He needs one TD to pass Hall of Famer Lenny Moore (55) for the most by any Colts player through their first five seasons. ... WR Michael Pittman Jr. has caught at least five passes in five of his past six games and is coming off his best overall game this season — nine receptions, 109 yards, one TD. ... WR Josh Downs needs three catches to pass T.Y. Hilton (132) for second and eight to pass Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison (137) for the most by a Colts player over his first two seasons. ... LB Zaire Franklin already has the top three single-season tackling totals in franchise history. He needs two more to top himself for second and 15 to break his record (179), set last season.

It's always difficult to make a selection in a game such as this where neither team has much at stake. So take the most obvious play — Taylor's hot hand against a Jaguars defense that has struggled to stop the run.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, left, congratulates quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor scores a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)

New York Giants defensive end Elijah Garcia (90) recovers a fumble in front of Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (31) during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, second from left, makes an interception over Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, left, talks to quarterback Mac Jones (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drones blasted apartment buildings and the power grid in the southern Ukraine city of Odesa in an overnight attack that injured six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday.

Four apartment buildings were damaged in the bombardment, according to regional military administration head Oleh Kiper. Power company DTEK said two of its energy facilities suffered significant damage. The company said that 10 substations that distribute electricity in the Odesa region were damaged in December alone.

Russia has this year escalated its long-range attacks on urban areas of Ukraine. In recent months, as Russia’s invasion of its neighbor approaches its four-year milestone in February, it has also intensified its targeting of energy infrastructure, seeking to deny Ukrainians heat and running water in the bitter winter months.

From January to November this year, more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 were injured, the United Nations said earlier this month. That was 26% higher than in the same period in 2024 and 70% higher than in 2023, it said.

Russia’s sustained drone and missile attacks have taken place against backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on Sunday and announced that a settlement is “closer than ever before." The Ukrainian leader is due to hold talks next week with the heads of European governments supporting his efforts to secure acceptable terms.

The ongoing attacks, meantime, are inflaming tensions.

The overnight Odesa strikes “are further evidence of the enemy’s terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure,” Kiper, the regional head, said.

Moscow has alleged that Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia with 91 long-range drones late Sunday and early Monday. Ukrainian officials deny the claim and say it’s a ruse to derail progress in the peace negotiations.

Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force claimed Wednesday that the drones took off from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

At a briefing where no questions were allowed, he presented a map showing the drone flight routes before they were downed by Russian air defenses over the Bryansk, Tver, Smolensk and Novgorod regions.

It was not possible to independently verify the reports.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, on Wednesday called the Russian allegations “a deliberate distraction” from the peace talks.

“No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war,” Kallas posted on X.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Romania and Croatia are the latest countries to join a fund that buys weapons for Ukraine from the United States. The financial arrangement, known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, pools contributions from NATO members, except the United States, to purchase American weapons, munitions and equipment.

Since it was established in August, 24 countries are now contributing to the fund, according to Zelenskyy. The fund has so far received $4.3 billion, with almost $1.5 billion coming in December alone, he said on social media.

Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday that Russia fired 127 drones at the country during the night, with 101 of them intercepted by air defenses.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions, the Black Sea and the illegally annexed Crimea peninsula.

The Ukrainian attack started a fire at an oil refinery in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, but it was quickly put out, local authorities said.

This story has corrected the day of the alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian president’s residence to late Sunday and early Monday.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

In this image made from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, a Russian Army soldier fires from D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)