After being inconspicuously absent during the first half of preseason Week 1, it was clear things weren’t going great for Tennessee Titans fourth-round pick and wide receiver, Dez Fitzpatrick.
The Louisville product was the only Titans receiver to not play during the first two quarters of that game, and he failed to record a stat in the second-half snaps he did play.
Fitzpatrick, who also struggled in practices leading up to preseason Week 2, was able to turn things around against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tallying two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Wide receivers coach Rob Moore pointed to Fitzpatrick’s growing sense of urgency and a better understanding of the speed at which the NFL game is played as reasons for his improvement.
“I think he’s slowly understanding the speed at which you’ve got to play this game,” Moore said. “You got guys like Khalil Mack and some of these others guys come up, you don’t have time to give guys a song and a dance to get open. I think he’s realizing the urgency that you’ve got to play with and is starting to show it a little more.”
While we fully expected Fitzpatrick to make the roster when training camp began, our confidence in that projection wavered for a bit, mostly because Tennessee’s other backup receiver options were routinely thriving.
Now, the rookie looks to be safe after showing signs of life. He’ll have one more opportunity to make an impression in preseason Week 3 against the Chicago Bears.
Moore also revealed that fellow wideout A.J. Brown has taken on more of a leadership role in his third season, passing on the things he has learned to younger guys.
“As a coach, it always puts a smile on your face when you see the growth, you see the maturity” Moore said of Brown. “He’s sat in that seat, he’s been where he’s been, so he’s just trying to impart the wisdom that was given to him and is kind of passing it on trying to help shorten his learning curve.”
Brown looked phenomenal in training camp, but has yet to take the field in a preseason game. There’s a chance we’ll see him on Saturday night, but regardless the Ole Miss product is primed for a huge 2021 season.
[lawrence-related id=70122,70113,70099]
[listicle id=70106]