Category: Titans training camp

Biggest takeaways from Titans’ 1st padded practice of training camp

Will Levis had his best day of training camp in the Titans’ first padded practice.

The Tennessee Titans were back at it on Monday for their fourth open practice of training camp. However, this one was different from all the previous sessions.

That’s because the Titans were sporting pads, the first time they have done so in training camp. This is significant, of course, because coaches can better evaluate players with the pads on.

There was good news and bad news on the attendance front, as tight end Josh Whyle made his first appearance of camp, but defensive lineman Teair Tart wasn’t present.

It isn’t clear what the cause of Tart’s absence was.

It was a good day for both young quarterbacks, Malik Willis and Will Levis, but it was Levis in particular who really shined, especially during the red-zone portion of practice.

The Kentucky product recently stated he’s feeling more comfortable out there, and he continues to look the part.

Now, a look at all that and more as we go through the biggest takeaways from Monday based on the observations of beat writers on the ground.

See it: Titans’ Alize Mack has unusual way of using JUGS machine

Titans TE Alize Mack has an unusual way of using the JUGS machine.

Tennessee Titans tight end Alize Mack is doing his best to earn a roster spot with the team after being signed in free agency this offseason, and that includes preparing for every situation.

No, really, the man is preparing for EVERY situation.

After practice on Monday, which was the Titans’ first padded session of training camp, Mack spent some extra time on the field using the JUGS machine.

But this wasn’t any old JUGS session that we see from players. Instead, Mack was catching balls while laying flat on his back. You can check out the clip posted by Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt below.

Thankfully, the Associated Press’ Teresa Walker asked Mack what the hell he was doing out there (not in those words, of course), and Mack basically said it’s about being ready for any situation and working on muscle memory.

He noted that he’s been doing it for a few years now and took the method from other guys around the league.

“Everything is all repetition,” he said. “It’s practice, that’s what we come out here to do is to practice what we’re going to do out on the field and prepare. So, I just like to get on the JUGs, and you never know what might come about out there.”

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Titans holding first padded practice Monday, Josh Whyle returns

The Titans are in pads on Monday for the first time in training camp, and tight end Josh Whyle is back out there.

The Tennessee Titans return to the practice field on Monday for their fourth open session of training camp, which will also be the team’s first padded practice.

And, in what is another notable return, 2023 fifth-round pick and tight end Josh Whyle will be on the field for the first time in training camp after not seeing the field due to an undisclosed issue.

In our last 53-man roster projection, we had Whyle securing the No. 3 tight end spot behind Chigoziem Okonkwo and Trevon Wesco.

Now, that’s not to say Whyle couldn’t surpass Wesco at some point, but he’ll have to prove a reliable blocker before that can happen. Right now, Whyle’s biggest strength is his ability as a pass-catcher.

As far as the Titans strapping on the pads is concerned, this is big news, as this is when the real evaluations start. Rest assured, we’ll have full coverage once practice wraps up at 11:15 a.m. CT.

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Watch: Jason McCourty reports what he saw, heard while at Titans camp

Jason McCourty was at Titans camp on Saturday, Here’s what he saw and heard.

The Tennessee Titans welcomed several former players to training camp this past week, with former defensive back and current “Good Morning Football” host Jason McCourty being among them.

McCourty made the rounds on Saturday, with the former sixth-round pick watching practice and taking the time to speak with players such as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Derrick Henry.

McCourty also spoke to general manager Ran Carthon and characterized the Titans’ approach as a renovation rather than a rebuild, which is now quite obvious after the addition of Hopkins.

Check out all that and more from McCourty’s visit in the video below.

After an off day on Sunday, the Titans will return to the practice field on Monday for their fourth open session of training camp. It’s also the first practice in which pads can come on, although it hasn’t been confirmed if Tennessee will follow suit.

Regardless, we’ll have full coverage once it’s over.

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Titans’ Will Levis says he’s ‘a lot more comfortable’ in training camp

Titans QB Will Levis feels more comfortable in training camp from where he was in the spring.

When it comes to rookie signal-callers, the biggest thing early on in their careers is seeing any kind of progression, and that’s something we may be seeing with Tennessee Titans quarterback, Will Levis.

After practice on Saturday, Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt noted that Levis, who is 17-of-23 throwing the football so far in training camp, has looked more comfortable from where he was in the spring.

Quarterback Will Levis was 6-of-8 on the day, and he’s looked more comfortable in camp than he did during the offseason. I’ve noticed more positive plays from him the last few days, and now have him 17-of-23 in 7-on-7 and team periods combined so far in camp.

And Levis has since confirmed what Wyatt’s eyes are telling him. After that same practice, Levis told Buck Reising of AtoZ Sports that he is indeed feeling more comfortable from where he was in the spring.

“I feel like I can see the bigger picture a lot easier now,” Levis said. “In the spring, it was my first time going through everything, the first time learning the playbook and just the certain things that are asked of us at the quarterback position.

“So, that was my first time going through all that and pretty much everything that we’re doing now, I’ve banked at least one or two reps of a lot of these different concepts and different actions or drops or progressions. It only gets better with repetition and I think going from the spring to now, I feel a lot more comfortable, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

A lot was made of fellow quarterback Malik Willis outperforming Levis during the spring as both compete for the No. 2 job behind starter Ryan Tannehill.

But that’s what we should’ve expected considering the former has a full year of NFL experience under his belt.

Levis appears to be closing the gap, though, at least slightly. Now, he has to keep stacking good days and show out when it truly matters most, first when the pads come on, and then in preseason games next month.

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Photos from Titans’ 3rd open practice of training camp

The Titans had their third open practice of training camp on Saturday, and this one was open to the fans. Here’s the photos from it.

The Tennessee Titans had their third training camp practice that was open to the media on Saturday, but the session was also the first that was open to fans.

In case you’ve missed any of the open practices thus far, you can check out our recaps, including the best photos from each session, below:

Day 1
Takeaways
Photos

Day 2
Takeaways
Photos

Day 3
Takeaways

It isn’t clear if the Titans will be back on the practice field on Sunday, but we do know it won’t be open to the media if they are. Tennessee’s next open practice will be on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. CT.

Now, what you came for: the best photos from Saturday.

Titans’ Arden Key bringing the juice, and Andre Dillard is feeling it

Titans edge rusher Arden Key has dominated in training camp thus far, but that isn’t the only reason he’s standing out.

When the Tennessee Titans introduced free-agent acquisition and edge rusher Arden Key, it was quite apparent he was going to bring plenty of energy — or “juice” as general manager Ran Carthon put it — to the team.

And, on top of his early dominance in training camp, Key has also stood out because of the infectious energy he’s bringing to practices, and more specifically, to the defense.

When asked how he keeps his energy level so high, Key, who claimed he had seven sacks on Day 2 of training camp, said it’s even a mystery to him.

“I don’t know, I just wake up and I’m just on 10,” he said with a laugh after practice on Saturday, per Sam Phalen of AtoZ Sports. “I don’t know, it’s just something God blessed me with and I’m born with, so I don’t get tired at all.”

One of the most notable victims of Key’s impressive performance early on in camp is projected starting left tackle Andre Dillard, who did not have a good showing against Key on Friday.

When asked about matching up against Key, Dillard leaned on the old “iron sharpens iron” adage.

“Arden, an amazing teammate,” Dillard said, per Jim Wyatt. “We go against each other pretty much every rep of the whole practice. Iron sharpens iron; he’s an amazing pass-rusher, run defender, everything. So, he definitely has all the tools that a defensive player needs. I’m glad I get to go up against him and sharpen my own skills.”

After serving as a reserve in previous years, Key figures to play the biggest role of his career in Tennessee, starting opposite Harold Landry — and he has big goals for the Titans’ unit as a whole.

“No. 1 in all categories, that’s what we’re pushing towards, No. 1 in all categories” he said. “We know our goal, each and every week, as far as quarterback ratings, yards per carry, all that.

“We’ve got a goal each and every week. As long as we meet those, we’ll be No. 1.”

Biggest takeaways from Titans’ 3rd open practice of training camp

The biggest takeaways from the Titans’ training camp practice on Saturday, including a UDFA wide receiver who stood out.

The Tennessee Titans returned to the practice field on Saturday for what was their third open practice of training camp, and they also saw the return of one of their frontrunners for the right tackle spot.

After sitting out on Friday, offensive lineman Jamarco Jones was back on the practice field on Saturday and saw the majority of the reps at right tackle with the ones.

When it comes to the quarterbacks, second-year signal-caller Malik Willis had a good day by all accounts and rebounded in a big way after throwing a pick.

There weren’t just current Titans at practice, as some former Titans and Oilers were also in attendance, and rocking Oilers gear, also.

But there’s a lot more to talk about than what we just mentioned above. Here are all the biggest takeaways from Saturday’s session based on observations from the beat writers who were on the ground.

Photos from Titans’ 2nd open practice of training camp

A look at the photos from the Titans’ second open practice of training camp on Friday.

The Tennessee Titans returned to the practice field on Friday for what was the second practice of training camp that was open to the media.

It was also the start of one-on-ones, at least when the media has been able to record. The session produced quite the highlight from wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who made a great catch over cornerback Kristian Fulton.

You can check out that highlight and all of the biggest takeaways from yesterday’s session right here. And, in case you missed the first open practice on Wednesday, we have you covered right here.

Now, a look at the photos from Friday’s practice.

Titans’ Harold Landry: My knee is ‘damn-near perfect’

Titans OLB Harold Landry gave a positive update on his knee and expressed how “ecstatic” he is to be back.

For the first time since tearing his ACL prior to the 2022 season, Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry addressed the media after practice Friday.

Landry, who was out there yet again after returning to the practice field on Day 1 for the first time since his injury last year, gave quite the positive update on his knee, saying it is “damn-near perfect.”

But Landry hasn’t spent the past year only improving the condition of his knee. He also stated the time has given him a chance to improve his game overall.

“Obviously having the time that I had this whole offseason, it wasn’t just about my knee,” he said, per Paul Kuharsky. “I had a chance to also continue to improve my game, and work on my game, and not just rehab, but to be able to do my position work and stuff like that throughout the offseason. It got me right where we’re right on schedule for this season and I’m excited about that.”

Landry also noted that he feels stronger, faster and more explosive in his return and is understandably excited just to be playing football again.

“It’s been awesome,” Landry said of being back, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “Being away from the game for as long as I have been, missing all of last year, obviously you miss making plays in front of the fans in the games, because that feeling is just euphoric.

“But, honestly, being away for that long, you start to appreciate and miss even more just coming out here on the practice field and hearing Jeff (Simmons) talk [expletive] or just hearing your guys joking around. But at the same time everybody is just out here grinding and having a good time… I’m ecstatic to be back.”

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