Outside linebacker Bud Dupree was brought in to help bolster the Tennessee Titans’ pass-rush, but he also understands his job entails more than just getting to the quarterback.
Dupree was a guest on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” and said that his role is to impact the game in multiple ways, whether that be by rushing the passer or defending against the run.
He also noted that helping his teammates grow and getting them “hyped up” is an important part of the job as well.
“Anytime you get paid to pass rush, you go ahead and get sacks and make big plays in the run game, be an all-around player,” Dupree said. “You don’t just come in just to be a one-trick pony and just do pass rush. You’ve got to be able to be a tone-setter on the edge, as well, swarming to the ball, stopping the run, evolving your teammates, getting everybody hyped up. That’s what it is, man. That excites everybody around you, and that’s a big part of the game, in today’s game, especially. We’ve got to go out and be tough, tough as nails, go out there and just play to our best ability.”
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Dupree, who tore his ACL in December, reiterated that it’ll ultimately be up to the team to decide when he can take the field. He did not participate in the on-field portion of Tennessee’s mandatory minicamp last month.
“Just training hard every day right now, man,” Dupree said. “ACL recovery, rehab has been one of the most progress things I’ve dealt with so far. Each week you see different levels of progress. You see different things changing about it. I’m working hard to be back as soon as I can, but it’s up to the coaching staff at the end of the day, like when they want me to be on the field and how comfortable they feel with me coming off the injury.”
Dupree has said on multiple occasions that he plans on being a full-go for training camp. Regardless, expectations should be tempered for now.
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