Titans Training Camp Takeaways: New OL competition and more injury situations headline the hottest day yet
Carnell Tate delivered the highlight, but the Tennessee Titans’ defensive front, shifting tackle rotation and growing list of unavailable players told the broader story Monday.
Tennessee Titans training camp practice on Monday was another scorcher, with the feels-like temperature reaching 107 degrees on the sidelines. But the heat didn’t stop Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate from delivering the play of the day during Cam Ward’s 2-minute drill at the end of practice.
Also developing: a new offensive line roster battle has added a new layer. Easton Freeze and I are here with our observations from a scorcher.
Carnell Tate flashes toughness at Titans practice with big fourth down catch
Stanley: On a 4th-and-8 attempt with roughly a minute left on the clock, needing a touchdown from the wrong side of midfield, Tate went deep over cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Ward threw up a well-placed ball, and Tate went up to get it, came down, and made contact with both safety Kevin Winston Jr. and Flott. A crash collision between three guys, and Tate got the worst of it. But he held on to the football for a first down and a big gain.
Tate walked his way off the field and stood next to trainers for the remainder of the drive. However, once the offensive starters came off the field, Tate rejoined his fellow receivers Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson without any trainer nearby. Head coach Robert Saleh said after practice that he’s not concerned.
You can’t blame the defenders for the hit they laid on Tate. It was a bang-bang play where three bodies collided, and the rookie receiver absorbed the worst of it. The important part? He held on.
Titans defense wins 2-minute drill, Ward comes up empty
Stanley: Despite Ward’s strong connection with Tate on that play, the Titans defense won the 2-minute period.
After Tate’s big catch, a defensive pass interference was called on Flott. Then wide receiver Elic Ayomanor ran a drag route that got the offense inside the 10-yard line. But on 4th and goal with three seconds left, Ward was pressured immediately by edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who busted the play up. Ward threw it quick, and cornerback Alontae Taylor was all over the pass, knocking the ball away. Defense wins.
Quarterback Will Levis didn’t get anything accomplished on his 2-minute drive either. After a couple early completions to receiver Bryce Oliver the drive broke down, including sack by blitzing safety Jerrick Reed II.
What Crenshaw-Dixon’s reps mean for the Titans’ tackle depth
Freeze: The Titans appear to have a new offensive line competition brewing. At Monday’s practice, swing tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dixon, a second-year undrafted free agent, took a significant number of reps at left tackle high in the rotation protecting quarterback Ward.
The Titans offensive line depth has been a storyline throughout camp, and the latest shakeup signals that the front office and coaching staff are actively searching for answers at the backup tackle spot.
To be clear, Crenshaw-Dixon wasn’t the only one getting work at left tackle. Dan Moore, as far as we’re aware, is healthy and available, and he rotated in as well. But the fact that a young developmental player is getting that kind of run in a premium spot tells you something about where the Titans stand with their current swing tackle options.
The name at the center of this is Austin Deculus, the free agent addition the Titans brought in from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. From the jump, it wasn’t entirely clear why Tennessee signed him. In his time here through the preseason and practices, the results have not been impressive by any means. If Crenshaw-Dixon can prove himself as a viable swing tackle, that solves a problem cheaply with a young, cost-controlled player. If he can’t, the Titans really do need to do some shopping before the regular season. I wouldn’t be surprised if Crenshaw-Dixon continues to get stress tested throughout this week to see what he’s actually capable of handling.
The defensive line is starting to flash its potential
Freeze: On the other side of the ball, I’ve been asking for the Tennessee defensive line to be the heart and soul of this team. On paper, this is easily the best unit on the roster and the only group I would be sorely disappointed by if they finished as merely league average at the end of the year. The talent is there across the board, and Robert Saleh has been putting together great pass rushes for a very long time. That combination needs to coalesce into something dominant.
Monday’s practice was a nice step in that direction. Jeffrey Simmons was in the backfield constantly, beating up on whoever was playing at right guard for the most part, as he is wont to do. The defensive line was all over it. We know that the rules of camp don’t allow defenders to sack or make contact with the quarterback right now, but the pressure was evident. As the Titans get closer and closer to full speed, I think the production will follow. For now, consider Monday a promising sign that this group can live up to its billing.
Titans injury updates from the hottest day of training camp yet, especially at running back
Stanley: Tate will be fine. Saleh said he had no concern about the rookie WR after his catch on fourth down got him a little banged up in the heat.
For the second consecutive practice, the Titans were down three running backs. Tony Pollard, Nick Singleton, and Kalel Mullings all sat out Monday, making it two days in a row for all three. Mullings hasn’t been spotted since the scrimmage on Aug. 7 at Nissan Stadium.
With the top of the depth chart sidelined, Tennessee brought in a new running back to help fill the void. Dominic Robinson, a 25-year-old out of Tulsa, was freshly signed and got some work Monday. Beyond Robinson, it was a heavy workload for Tajae Spears, Michael Carter, and Julius Chestnut.
“Just minor aches and bruises,” Saleh said Saturday. “Tony (Pollard) didn’t practice (Saturday), just dealing with a sore foot. Hopefully, we’ll get him back Monday. Same thing with Nick Singleton.”
Saleh addressed a few different injury situations after practice. Back up quarterback Mitch Trubisky is being evaluated for a biceps injury and did not finish practice. Cornerback Joshua Williams is getting closer to ditching his non-contact jersey while nursing a pec injury (not that the gold practice jersey has slowed him down from any contact).
