Category: Titans training camp

Tennessee Titans training camp: Photos from first padded practice

Some photos from the Titans’ first padded practice of training camp.

The Tennessee Titans hit the field for their fifth practice of training camp on Monday, but this practice was unlike the other four Tennessee has taken part in this summer.

That’s because it was the first session in which Titans players wore pads. That’s significant because, as coaches always tell us, the real evaluations begin when the pads come on.

The highlight of the day was cornerback and 2022 second-round pick, Roger McCreary, who was described as “dominant” in the practice.

You can check out what McCreary had to say about his impressive showing right here, and you can check out our full practice recap right here.

Now, the photos.

Titans’ Roger McCreary reacts to ‘dominant’ Day 5 of training camp

Titans CB Roger McCreary spoke about his outstanding showing during Day 5 of training camp.

Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary has been one of the bigger standouts of training camp thus far, and he cemented that notion during Tennessee’s first padded practice on Monday.

With fellow corner Elijah Molden still sidelined due to injury, McCreary is making the most of his opportunity to shine.

McCreary had roughly five pass break-ups on Monday, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, and The Tennessean’s Ben Arthur described his performance as “dominant.”

After practice, McCreary reacted to what was another good day for him.

“I wouldn’t say everything is really falling into place, it’s just a little routine everyday,” McCreary said. “I just try to follow a routine and try to get used to everything, playing different positions and everything. But it’s been going great and I’m just trying to get better everyday. That’s my main focus.”

“My mindset here was to learn from my mistakes, and to try and learn something every day and improve,” McCreary added. “The [competition] here is great. The skillset of each guy is different, and it’s great to go against all of them.”

McCreary has been seeing a lot of action against fellow 2022 draft pick, wide receiver Treylon Burks, something he believes will help his development.

“I’m trying to get him better, he’s going to try and get me better,” McCreary said. “If he makes a good play, I’m going to say to him ‘good job.’ If I make a good play, we talk back and forth.”

McCreary is slated to serve as a backup in his first season but he’s showing he might be ready for a more significant role right away.

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Titans’ Jeffery Simmons embracing ‘Big Jeff’ nickname

Check out Jeffery Simmons’ thigh pads that display his nickname.

Tennessee Titans defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons is embracing his nickname “Big Jeff” going into his fourth season in the NFL.

Simmons can’t remember exactly where the nickname came from, but he is on board with it and even went as far as to get himself thigh pads that read “Big Jeff,” something he revealed in practice on Monday.

“I really didn’t have too many nicknames. I think ‘Big Jeff’ has been the newest one” Simmons said, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “But I think this one is going to stick with me. I even got some thigh pads with [Big Jeff]; when I wear white pants you probably can see them.”

If there was ever a nickname that fits a player perfectly, it’s Simmons’ ‘Big Jeff’ moniker. After all, he stands at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds.

After a breakout year in 2021, Simmons is widely considered one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, and he should get paid handsomely when Tennessee inevitably gives him a contract extension.

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Biggest takeaways from Titans’ first padded practice of training camp

Roger McCreary was the biggest standout during the Titans’ first padded practice of training camp.

The Tennessee Titans returned to the practice field on Monday after an off day on Sunday, and the session was the first padded practice of training camp.

Tennessee’s two top picks from this year’s NFL draft, wide receiver Treylon Burks and cornerback Roger McCreary, both continue to be among the team’s biggest standouts at training camp, but it was the Auburn product who stood out the most on Monday.

On the injury front, two Titans returned to practice in center Ben Jones and tight end Tommy Hudson, who was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday.

On the flip side, cornerback Elijah Molden missed his second straight practice while dealing with an unspecified leg injury. His absence has opened the door for McCreary to get more reps, and he’s making the most of them.

Now, a look at all the happenings from Tennessee’s first padded practice of training camp on Monday.

Titans TE Tommy Hudson removed from PUP list

The Titans have activated TE Tommy Hudson off the PUP list.

Ahead of their fifth training camp practice on Monday, the Tennessee Titans removed tight end Tommy Hudson from the Physically Unable to Perform list after passing his physical, the team announced.

Hudson was placed on the list ahead of training camp after being carted off the field during OTAs due to an unspecified leg injury.

A 2020 undrafted free agent signing of the Titans, Hudson’s career got off to a rocky start after he was suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He didn’t play in a game that season.

After making the initial 53-man roster in 2021, Hudson appeared in five games and totaled three catches for 31 yards but had a pair of stints on Injured Reserve, the second of which ended his season.

Looking ahead to 2022, Hudson is competing for one of the final roster spots at tight end. He’s the favorite to land the No. 4 role if there is one, but it’s also possible Tennessee carries just three.

After an off day on Sunday, the Titans are back on the practice field on Monday for what will be the first padded session of 2022.

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Titans training camp: Recaps from the first week of practice

Find out what happened during the Titans’ first week of training camp with our daily recaps.

The first week of Tennessee Titans training camp is officially in the books after the team held four practices last week. Players will have an off day Sunday before returning to the field on Monday, which will be the first padded practice of 2022.

For the first time since 2019, the Titans opened up a session to fans on Saturday. Tennessee will host fans once again on Friday, August 5.

As will be the case the rest of the offseason, we’ve been putting out a daily recap after each practice. Stay informed with what’s going on at Titans training camp by checking out those recaps below.

Biggest takeaways from Day 4 of Titans training camp

The biggest takeaways from Day 4 of Titans training camp.

The Tennessee Titans were back on the practice field for their fourth session of 2022 training camp on Saturday. The team returned outside after spending yesterday indoors because of inclement weather.

Saturday’s practice was also the first to be open to fans. Tennessee will host fans once again on Friday, August 5.

On top of the three players who remain on the physically unable to perform list — tight end Tommy Hudson, kicker Caleb Shudak and linebacker Monty Rice — cornerback Elijah Molden and center Ben Jones were also absent.

It isn’t clear if Jones is dealing with an injury or if this was just a rest day, but we do know Molden is dealing with a leg issue after he came up limping during practice on Friday.

The good news is that running back Derrick Henry was practicing after leaving early the day before.

Now, a look at the rest of the important details from Saturday’s session.

Titans’ Rashad Weaver talks return from injury, how he can improve

Titans OLB Rashad Weaver spoke about his return from injury and how he can improve in 2022.

After a promising 2021 preseason that saw him tally 1.5 sacks, Tennessee Titans fourth-round pick and outside linebacker Rashad Weaver saw his rookie campaign end after just two games due to a broken fibula.

Fast forward to 2022, Weaver, who has been a full participant in practice at training camp, is not only trying to return from injury, he’s also attempting to carve out a role for himself.

Weaver wasn’t shy about admitting how difficult it was not playing because of his injury, but the Pittsburgh product is more than ready to get back out there.

“It is everything,” Weaver said of returning, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “Being hurt in the NFL can get lonely. Being back around the guys, back in the locker room, having two legs I can actually walk on and do stuff and getting to do what I love … it is everything I want.”

“It’s just great to be back,” Weaver added. “Imagine [having what you love] getting taken away from you for 8 to 10 months. It was hard being away from something you love, feeling like you are missing a part of yourself. Being back out here is everything to me.”

For a player returning from injury like Weaver, there will inevitably be some rust. The second-year pro says he shook some of that off during minicamp, but the process continues in training camp.

Weaver is also focusing on improving his pad level going into Year 2, which is something outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow has said is a point of emphasis for the 24-year-old.

“The first thing anybody would say after being out that long is ‘knocking off the rust’,” Weaver said. “I just have to knock off the rust on the technique and fundamentals, and bring it back. And, pad level, that is going to continue to be my (focus) — when I have low pads, it is hard for people to block me, and I can make a lot of plays. Those are things I continue to focus on. But it comes back quick and I kind of got that rust off in OTAs, so coming into camp it was just getting back to running full speed and hitting guys a little more.”

Weaver has received praise from Crow and general manager Jon Robinson for the work he has put in and the progress he has made since entering the league and suffering the injury.

Outside linebacker Harold Landry and head coach Mike Vrabel have both taken notice.

“I think he had a great mindset, dealing with that,” Landry said of Weaver’s injury. “I am excited to see him out here every day. I feel like he has made great strides ever since he got here, and I am excited to watch him play.”

“I think what he benefited from was being around here in the offseason to get a lot of reps to get in shape. To get healthy, to study,” Vrabel said. “The one thing that I always respected about Rashad when he was with us last year, healthy, was how hard he played. There were things that weren’t perfect and there were mistakes. But he played with great effort and that’s always a great place to start. And I think what he’s done this year now is come back healthy in camp and started to try to look to define a role for himself. Working hard on special teams, I think that’s something (he) probably had improved in the offseason was his ability to help us on special teams or understand that. And for some guys coming out of college, that’s new, especially those defensive end types that transition to edge players in our league. They have to be able to play special teams.”

Weaver is currently slated to be the team’s No. 3 outside linebacker behind Landry and Bud Dupree, and he’ll clearly have a role on special teams.

However, Weaver might be auditioning for a starting job in 2023 as well, as Dupree is a potential cut candidate next offseason if he struggles in 2022.

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Titans’ Taylor Lewan talks chemistry with Aaron Brewer, social media break

“We’re wearing underwear. We’re running around. It’s like a glorified modeling show right now,” Lewan said of the early days of training camp.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan recently stated that he was not going on social media during the 2022 campaign, which is hard to fathom because of how active he is on Twitter.

But Lewan stuck to his guns when asked about it after the third practice of training camp on Friday, noting that things have become “crazy efficient” since he stopped looking at social media.

“It wasn’t this big epiphany of mine,” Lewan said, via Ben Arthur of The Tennessean. “It’s weird, the first couple of days I was actually kind of bored, the real world is kind of a little boring to me. Now, it’s become almost crazy efficient because there’s nothing to look at.”

After playing next to Rodger Saffold for the past three years, Lewan is set to have a new left guard next to him, which will be sorted out in a training camp competition between Aaron Brewer and Jamarco Jones.

As for Brewer specifically, Lewan was very complimentary and said the pair have a “good chemistry going already.”

“He’s a great dude. He’s very athletic. He and I have very similar skill sets, which is fun if it’s used the right way,” Lewan said. “We have a good chemistry going already.”

The left guard spot isn’t the only position to have a new starter in 2022, as right tackle will feature a competition between Dillon Radunz, the favorite, and rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere.

So, how does the new offensive line look thus far?

“We literally have no idea ‘til pads come on,” Lewan said. “We’re wearing underwear. We’re running around. It’s like a glorified modeling show right now.”

Tennessee will return to the practice field on Saturday before an off day on Sunday. Then, the team will strap on the pads for the first time on Monday.

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Tennessee Titans training camp: Photos from Day 3

A look at some photos from the Titans’ third training camp practice on Friday.

On Friday, the Tennessee Titans held their third practice of training camp, which took place indoors because of inclement weather. Tennessee will hit the field once again on Saturday before an off day on Sunday.

In case you missed the events of Day 3, check out our takeaways article right here. Now, a look at the photos from the third session of training camp.