Tag: Nick Vannett

Titans’ Will Levis, Tyjae Spears practice in full, L’Jarius Sneed sits again

The Titans’ injury report after Thursday’s practice ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Chargers on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans have seen their fair share of injuries this season. The offensive line is in a shambles after losing Lloyd Cushenberry for the season. With Dillon Radunz also injured, it moved Daniel Brunskill to guard and Corey Levin became the center. Safety Quandre Diggs is also gone for the season, and for the umpteenth straight practice, L’Jarius Sneed continues to nurse a quad injury.

This week, though, the Titans are seeing progress with some of the nagging injuries players have been playing through. Will Levis was a full participant on Thursday, T’Vondre Sweat is not on the injury report, and Tyjae Spears practiced in full. There were a couple of new injuries, but only two players sat out of Thursday’s practice.

The Titans’ Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad), RB Tony Pollard (foot)

Limited participants: WR Tyler Boyd (shoulder), S Amani Hooker (groin), DT Jeffery Simmons (hamstring), G Dillon Radunz (foot), RB Julius Chestnut (foot), TE Nick Vannett (neck)

Full participant: WR Calvin Ridley (shoulder), QB Will Levis (shoulder), S Mike Edwards (NIR-Rest), RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring), CB Tre Avery (hamstring)

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Nick Vannett on Titans’ second half woes: ‘Things are just getting flat’

Titans tight end Nick Vannett says the team needs to maintain its energy during the second half of games.

There have been a lot of different voices coming out of the Tennessee Titans locker room in the past few days, all stating different perspectives on what is holding the team back during their 1-5 start to 2024. 

The frustrations are evident, and although their focus has been on different parts of the game-day experience, they all seem to point back to practice and preparation. The overriding theme of 2024 has been second-half dysfunction and the inability to hold a lead. 

TE Nick Vannett touched on that after the latest implosion Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and went into detail about what he has seen and experienced this season. 

https://twitter.com/AtoZSports/status/1848398882742452461

“Things are just getting flat. It’s different than it was in the first half, when we’re playing well, the energy’s there.” He said, “ And then, when things start to turn, that’s when we have to ramp it up. That’s when we have to buckle down and go to war. We have to practice that.

“Focus must come from the players, and not the coaches,” he continued and that is true.

However, with the constant second half issues that have plagued the Titans, everything cannot be placed on the players. Vannett subtly said that (and more) when referencing a lack of preparation against certain looks the offense has encountered while talking about the units’ struggles against pressure this season. 

https://twitter.com/AtoZSports/status/1848398919371305117

Yes, the Titans need to play better in the second half of games. There is no denying that. However, with multiple players pointing out “practice” in their statements, one has to wonder what the focus is or what exactly is taking place during those sessions. One thing has become clear after six games, they haven’t practiced how to close teams out in the second half. 

Titans fans, how do you feel; is it the coaching or the players?  Let us know in the comments or on social media and let us know your thoughts.

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Titans’ updated cap space after Tyler Boyd, Nick Vannett deals revealed

A look at the Titans’ updated cap space after the contracts for Tyler Boyd (an absolute steal) and Nick Vannett were revealed.

The Tennessee Titans’ most recent free-agent signings were wide receiver Tyler Boyd and tight end Nick Vannett. Both of those contracts have been fully revealed, giving us an updated look at Tennessee’s cap space.

According to Over the Cap, Boyd’s one-year deal is worth $2.4 million, with half of that being guaranteed. It was originally reported as worth up to $4.2 million, so we can assume there’s about $1.8 million in incentives. This deal is an absolute steal.

Vannett’s deal is worth $1.21 million over one year and includes just $250,000 in guaranteed money. If cut, the Titans would save $985,000.

With those contracts on the books, the Titans now have $20.02 million in effective cap space (the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster), per OTC.

Tennessee has ample room to make more moves, including a significant one at safety, where the team has a question mark at a starting spot. If I had to pick, the next signing will come there, and hopefully it’ll be Justin Simmons.

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Titans agree to terms with TE Nick Vannett among 2 moves

The Titans made a much-needed veteran addition to their tight ends room on Monday.

The Tennessee Titans were in need of a veteran tight end in their very young tight ends room, and they did that on Monday.

According to the team, the Titans have agreed to terms with veteran tight end Nick Vannett. To make room on the roster, Tennessee waived undrafted free-agent defensive back Rod Gattison.

A former third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, Vannett spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he played in eight games and tallied one catch for three yards.

The 31-year-old has also appeared in contests with the Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants. His best season came in 2018, when he finished with career-highs in catches (29) and receiving yards (269).

Vannett’s best skill is pass-blocking, where he’s improved over the course of his career. However, his run-blocking grades leave a lot to be desired. Still, he presents a good complement to Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle, both of whom are plus pass-catchers.

As things currently stand, Vannett has a great shot to make the roster. He should also compete with Whyle for the No. 2 tight end job but shouldn’t land lower than third on the depth chart.

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Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Jets

Here is why the Chargers could beat the Jets on Monday night.

The Chargers return to primetime on Monday night following a get-right win over the Bears last Sunday night. Their opponent increases in quality, but only on one side of the ball, with the Jets hosting Los Angeles.

Here are four reasons to believe the Bolts will put together their second straight win.

Chargers sign TE Nick Vannett to active roster

The Chargers shored up the tight end room.

After waiving tight end Tre’ McKitty on Tuesday, the Chargers wasted no time in bolstering the depth chart. Per Aaron Wilson, Nick Vannett was signed from the practice squad to the active roster.

The move comes after a few weeks of rather poor blocking performances from both Tre’ McKitty and Stone Smartt. McKitty was also a healthy scratch prior to the Chiefs game. Vannett will at least be given some opportunity to show off what he can do in the blocking department.

Vannett’s last full season with over 20+ pass blocking and 100+ run blocking snaps was in 2021. With the Saints, he scored a 75.8 PFF grade as a pass blocker and a 55.1 PFF grade in run blocking last year. In 2022, his numbers dipped a bit with the Saints and he was cut for cap reasons during the season. However, his numbers did rebound closer to his 2021 status quo in the second half of the season with the Giants.

Vannett will be tasked with being one of the tight ends to stabilize the blocking on the unit currently. The Chargers’ run success rates have decreased due to both relative drops in team blocking and running back efficiency.

The roster is brought back to 53 with the signing of Vannett following yesterday’s waive of McKitty. The Chargers will also likely need to make two more roster cuts for Jalen Guyton and Otito Ogbonnia to be activated off of the PUP list and formally return against the Jets on Monday night.

Chargers waive TE Tre’ McKitty

The Chargers are cutting ties with their 2021 third-round pick.

The Chargers waived tight end Tre’ McKitty on Tuesday.

McKitty, the former third-round pick out of the 2021 NFL draft, appeared in 34 games (12 starts) across three seasons. They selected him with the intent of being a reliable blocker, but it never came to fruition.

McKitty wasn’t serviceable in the passing game, either. He had 12 catches on 26 targets for 117 yards.

With McKitty gone, Gerald Everett, Donald Parham and Stone Smartt make up the tight end room. To fill the void, L.A. could call up Nick Vannett from the practice squad.

A third-round pick by the Seahawks in 2016, Vannett has 90 receptions for 874 yards and six touchdowns in his career.

If they don’t promote Vannett, that empty roster spot could be for either wide receiver Jalen Guyton or defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia, who will soon be activated off the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

Chargers practice squad tracker: Latest additions to roster

Keep track of all the signings to the Chargers practice squad right here.

After setting their initial 53-man roster, the Chargers began constructing their 17-man practice squad. They signed 12 and added three over the past two days.

Here’s the full list of the players signed to the Bolts practice squad:

EDGE Brevin Allen

RT Zack Bailey

WR Terrell Bynum

DT Jerrod Clark

DT Christian Covington

QB Max Duggan

WR Keelan Doss

EDGE Andrew Farmer

CB Matt Hankins

TE Hunter Kampmoyer

DT CJ Okoye (IPP)

G/T Austen Pleasants

WR Alex Erickson

S Dean Marlowe

TE Nick Vannett

Chargers sign two more players to the practice squad

The Chargers added a veteran safety and tight end.

The Chargers signed safety Dean Marlowe and tight end Nick Vannett to the practice squad on Thursday.

After the additions of wide receiver Alex Erickson, Marlowe and Vannett, there are two vacant spots on the practice squad.

Marlowe spent the second half of the 2022 season with the Bills after being traded by the Falcons. He became a full-time starter after Damar Hamlin’s horrifying injury.

Before that, Marlowe had three stints with the Bills from 2018-2020. He also played a season for the Lions in 2021.

Marlowe started his NFL career with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison University in 2015, where he played under Brandon Staley, the defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

Across seven seasons, Marlowe has 119 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions and a pair of tackles for loss.

Vannett, 30, spent last season with the Saints and Giants, playing nine games with three starts. He totaled six catches for 55 yards.

He also has played for the Seahawks, Steelers and Broncos.

A third-round pick by Seattle in 2016, Vannett has 90 receptions for 874 yards and six touchdowns in his career.

Texans sign former Giants TE Nick Vannett

Former New York Giants tight end Nick Vannett has signed with the Houston Texans.

Former New York Giants tight end Nick Vannett has landed with a new team after the veteran inked a deal with the Houston Texans.

The Texans announced the signing on Wednesday, along with the release of veteran defensive lineman, Demone Harris, who reportedly plans to retire, according to Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com.

A former third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, Vannett latched on with the Giants’ practice squad in November of last year while Daniel Bellinger was sidelined with an eye injury.

Vannett, who was eventually promoted to the active roster, played in six games (three starts) for Big Blue in 2022, catching four passes on seven targets for 42 yards.

He also played nine offensive snaps and 25 special teams snaps over two postseason contests, but did not record a stat.

Prior to his stint with the Giants, Vannett also appeared in games with the Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.

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