NASHVILLE — It's no secret that the Tennessee Titans are in desperate need of a solution that will improve things on the offensive line.

The Titans have failed to both protect the passer and run the football effectively since Will Levis took over as the team's starting quarterback. But Tennessee recently made a chess move to switch things around.

Even with left tackle Andre Dillard clearing concussion protocol, Tennessee is prepared to start rookie Jaelyn Duncan at left tackle while flipping Dillon Radunz to the right side.

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Radunz has played every offensive snap for the Titans in the last two games with a majority of them coming at left tackle. When starting right tackle Chris Hubbard went down with a bicep injury last Sunday, Radunz remained on the left side while the rookie Duncan stepped up at right tackle.

But with Hubbard likely to miss significant time, the Titans are swapping the positions of Radunz and Duncan in the name of comfort level. 

"I think probably comfort level for Jaelyn (Duncan), Dre (Andre Dillard), and Dillon (Radunz)," said head coach Mike Vrabel when asked why he made the move. "Just being able to work those combinations. That's kind of how we'll start the week off and that may change."

After a week of practice with Duncan and Dillard competing on the left side, Vrabel and his staff decided to give the starting nod to Duncan while Radunz will start at right tackle. That means Andre Dillard, who is available, has been benched.

"Just collaboration with the staff and looking at tape as far as opportunities on each side for each guy," said offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling about why Duncan and Radunz were swapped.

Houghtaling believes that Duncan is better suited to play left tackle because of his collegiate experience and natural athleticism. "From a natural ability standpoint and where he has played a majority of his snaps. The athletic ability is there," said Houghtaling on Wednesday.

The 2023 sixth-round pick has come a long way over the course of his rookie year, and now he has an opportunity to really make a name for himself as a starting left tackle. If Duncan can hold down the position for the rest of this year and be a valuable piece for them on the offensive line moving forward, it would be a huge step into fixing the issues currently holding the organization back from success.

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