Category: Titans training camp

Mike Vrabel explains Dillon Radunz playing guard on Day 16 of Titans camp

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel explained why Dillon Radunz was playing guard on Day 16 of training camp.

On Day 16 of Tennessee Titans training camp, the team decided to give their 2021 second-round pick and offensive tackle Dillon Radunz reps inside at guard.

The North Dakota State product saw plenty of reps on the inside last year, but that has not been the case so far this offseason with Radunz competing for the right tackle spot with rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere.

The move certainly caught everyone’s attention, especially after Radunz had what many considered a lackluster performance in preseason Week 2 (more on that later).

However, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said it was simply a matter of the team needing a body to play on the inside due to injuries.

“We’re really just trying to shuffle some guys around. We’ve had some guys out and just trying to figure out where guys are going to be best served for themselves and for us,” Vrabel said, per Terry McCormick of Titan Insider.

On Monday, the Titans saw two of their guards sidelined. Jamarco Jones, who didn’t play in preseason Week 2, did not participate, while Nate Davis was limited after not having practiced for several days in a row.

Of course, some people are going to jump to conclusions immediately that Radunz is out at right tackle and Petit-Frere is in, and while that’s certainly something to keep in the back of our minds, there’s enough here to take Vrabel’s word for now.

Now, let’s get back to the “sky is falling” reaction to Radunz’s performance on Saturday night, something I was guilty of being apart of: he wasn’t great, but also wasn’t as bad as the 17.8 PFF pass-block grade he received. Titan Sized’s Will Lomas has a great Twitter thread on that.

Now, this is not to say that Radunz is completely safe at right tackle, as NPF is absolutely giving him a run for his money, nor are we going to say we’re totally content with what we’ve seen from him, but Radunz isn’t as bad off after Saturday night as once thought.

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Tennessee Titans training camp: Photos from Day 16

The photos from Day 16 of Titans training camp.

The Tennessee Titans were back on the practice field on Monday for their 16th practice of training camp, which was also the last before Tennessee trims its roster down to 80 players on Tuesday.

In case you missed the events of Day 16, you can check out what happened with our takeaways article right here.

The Titans have already begun working their way down to 80, as the team cut four players on Monday, including wide receiver Terry Godwin, outside linebacker Justin Lawler, defensive back Shyheim Carter and cornerback Shakur Brown. Brown and Carter were waived with injury designations.

Up next for the Titans will be a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. Tennessee and Arizona were originally scheduled to practice on Thursday as well, but that has since been changed.

Now, the photos from Day 16.

Biggest takeaways from Day 16 of Titans training camp

A look at the biggest takeaways from Day 16 of Titans training camp.

The Tennessee Titans practiced on Monday for the first time since their preseason Week 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and for the final time before all teams must cut their rosters down to 80 players.

Before practice, the Titans already began that process by waiving four players, including wide receiver Terry Godwin, outside linebacker Justin Lawler, defensive back Shyheim Carter and cornerback Shakur Brown.

Both Brown and Carter were waived with injury designations, which was especially unfortunate for Brown, who had a great shot to make the roster after standing out upon arriving in Nashville.

Tennessee still has one more move to make, as the roster currently stands at 81. That move will come by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Then, by the same time the following Tuesday (Aug. 30) the Titans will trim down to 53 players.

Without further ado, here are the biggest takeaways from the Titans’ 16th practice of training camp.

Titans waive four players ahead of second cutdown day

The Titans waived four players ahead of the second cutdown day on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans parted ways with four players on Monday, the day before the team has to trim its roster down to 80 players.

The four players getting the boot are outside linebacker Justin Lawler, wide receiver Terry Godwin, defensive back Shyheim Carter and cornerback Shakur Brown. Brown and Carter were waived with injury designations.

The injury to Brown is extra unfortunate, as the former USFL standout had a great shot to make the roster after showing out upon arriving in Nashville. In fact, we had him on our latest 53-man roster projection before news of him being waived came out.

With the moves, the Titans’ roster now sits at 81 players, which means they have one more player to cut. Rosters must be trimmed down by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday.

After their preseason Week 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night, the Titans will be back on the practice field on Monday.

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Updated Titans 53-man roster projection after preseason Week 2

Our latest 53-man roster projection following the Titans’ preseason Week 2 win.

With preseason Week 2 in the books following the Tennessee Titans’ 13-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night, we’re taking our latest crack at a 53-man roster projection for the Titans.

The Titans will make their latest round of cuts on Tuesday, trimming their roster from 85 to 80. And then, following their final preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 27, the Titans will have their final cutdown to 53.

The latest exhibition contest further helped clarify who on the roster bubble has a better shot than others to make the initial 53-man group, but there’s still time for those struggling to rebound with another preseason game left to play.

While the left guard job appears to have been decided, things are still open at right tackle between Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dillon Radunz, and at cornerback between Roger McCreary and Caleb Farley.

Wide receiver hasn’t exactly been decided yet, either. Robert Woods stands to be the No. 1 and Kyle Philips should operate out of the slot, but can Treylon Burks surpass Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the No. 2 role?

Here’s a look at our latest 53-man roster projection after preseason Week 2.

Titans who need a strong showing in preseason Week 2

A look at Titans who need to show out the most in preseason Week 2.

The Tennessee Titans will play their latest exhibition contest on Saturday night when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville for preseason Week 2.

After Tennessee’s preseason contest on Saturday night, the team will make its next round of cuts on Tuesday, trimming their roster from 85 to 80 players. The final cut will take place on the Tuesday after preseason Week 3.

There are several notable players on the bubble who need to stand out in order to make the cut. Also, there are some roster locks who need to shine if they want to cement a role from themselves at the outset of the season.

Here’s a look at players who need a strong showing in preseason Week 2.

Lonnie Johnson talks joining Titans, connections with coaching staff

New Titans DB Lonnie Johnson Jr. said he “wasn’t expecting” to land in Nashville.

The Tennessee Titans made a few additions to their secondary this week, one of which involved claiming former Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Lonnie Johnson off waivers.

A former second-round pick of the Texans in 2019, Johnson spent three years in Houston before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this offseason. However, Johnson was unexpectedly let go in the first round of cuts.

The Titans are already quite familiar with Johnson, who has faced Tennessee on multiple occasions during his three-year career. Adding to that, Johnson worked under defensive backs coach Anthony Midget in Houston.

Johnson didn’t wait long to make an impact in training camp. During his first practice on Wednesday, which was also the first joint session with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson recorded an interception.

“It’s just a blessing to be here,” Johnson said after practice on Wednesday, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I wasn’t expecting it but I got a good connection with [head coach Mike Vrabel], got a good connection with the DB coach [Anthony Midget] here.”

“First day out, I was blessed to get a pick the first play I was in, so just doing what I can,” Johnson added.

Johnson brings some versatility with him. He can play at safety, cornerback, and has experience on special teams. Tennessee may also give him a look in the tight end matchup role previously held by Dane Cruikshank.

As the Kentucky product continues to get acclimated and tries to earn a spot on the roster in Nashville, he’s just happy to be joining a winning culture in Tennessee.

“Just get in where I fit in and just get ready to work,” Johnson said. “I know [the Titans] got a winning culture here. They want to win, they want to get to the Super Bowl… This team works hard, got an excellent running back, QB; everybody just doing what they can to get to that next level, that next stage.”

While Johnson is facing an uphill climb in making the roster after joining the Titans so late in the offseason, he has a better shot to make the cut than most would in his position after Tennessee’s depth options in the secondary were lackluster in preseason Week 1.

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Titans training camp: Photos from second practice with Bucs

Photos from the Titans’ second joint practice with the Buccaneers.

On the 15th day of training camp, the Tennessee Titans held their second and final practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday ahead of their preseason Week 2 contest on Saturday night.

In case you missed the events of Day 15, you can check out our takeaways article right here. To stay up to date with the rest of Tennessee’s offseason schedule, click here.

Now, what you came for: the photos.

Watch: Kyle Philips breaks Logan Ryan’s ankles in Bucs-Titans practice

Kyle Philips faked Logan Ryan out of his cleats during Day 2 of Titans-Bucs joint practices.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kyle Philips continues to impress in training camp, and former Titans and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Logan Ryan saw that first hand on Thursday.

During Tennessee’s second joint practice with Tampa Bay, Ryan was tasked with matching up against Philips during one-on-ones, and he got a taste of just how dominant the rookie receiver has been in practice.

Philips got the better of Ryan on one play. The UCLA product flashed his moves against the veteran, leading to Ryan getting faked out of his cleats in what was one of Philips’ more impressive exchanges of the summer.

That wasn’t the only highlight of Philips’ day, though. He also showed out in multiple periods of practice, as Jim Wyatt of Titans Online noted.

“Receiver Kyle Philips stole the show early in the 1-on-1s and 2-on-2s with the Buccaneers defensive backs, and he didn’t stop there,” Wyatt wrote. “Philips got open again and again and again — and in a hurry… Philips was also a big factor in the 7-on-7 and team periods, especially near the goal line.”

After practice, head coach Mike Vrabel had a funny way of describing Philips’ quickness, saying the rookie “goes rabbit hunting with a hammer.”

Other than a quiet preseason Week 1, Philips has remained one of the biggest standouts of the entire offseason. He should have at least some kind of role early on when the 2022 season begins.

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Biggest takeaways from Titans’ second practice with Bucs

Titans CB Caleb Farley rebounded on Thursday after a rough first practice with the Buccaneers.

The Tennessee Titans were back at it on Thursday for their 15th practice of training camp, and the second joint session with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After the pair of practices with the Titans and Bucs, the two teams will square off in preseason Week 2 on Saturday night in Nashville.

After a mostly uneventful Day 1 that featured a minor dust-up involving Jeffery Simmons, running back Leonard Fournette swung on Big Jeff following practice, although the scrap wasn’t considered major.

“I think we should be able to not do dumb [expletive] that hurts the team and would say that that is an example of that,” head coach Mike Vrabel said of the dust-up. “When you guys are all writing about what that is, that’s what that would be.”

In other news, cornerback Caleb Farley had a bounce-back day after a rough Day 1. Here’s a look at that and the rest of the takeaways from Thursday’s joint practice.