Tennessee Titans wide receiver room remains a work in-progress
NASHVILLE — Whatever the Tennessee Titans receivers amount to this season, they are certain to be in the spotlight. Whether that scrutiny works in their favor or against them remains to be seen. The current group, however, is far from inspiring. Remover the A.J. Brown trade entirely from the conversation. I know it feels nearly impossible […]
NASHVILLE — Whatever the Tennessee Titans receivers amount to this season, they are certain to be in the spotlight. Whether that scrutiny works in their favor or against them remains to be seen.
The current group, however, is far from inspiring.
Remover the A.J. Brown trade entirely from the conversation. I know it feels nearly impossible to do. When Tennessee formulated its initial 53-man roster this week, though, one could be forgiven for thinking the five wide outs on the active roster would strike fear in an opponents hearts.
Like most things about the Titans, judgements made on paper are at the viewer's discretion.
Titans receiver depth is lacking
But you knew that going in.
As of Friday's transactions, Tennessee has five receivers on their active roster. Second-year player Racey McMath made it through the final round of cuts only to land on Injured Reserve with a hip issue to start the year. Cody Hollister was called up from the team's practice squad to replace McMath, joining Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, Robert Woods and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Former fourth-round pick Dez Fitzpatrick was notably cut for the second straight season, but brought back again on the Titans practice squad.
"Cody's toughness level," general manager Jon Robinson said on Wednesday in response to why Hollister was the move to replace McMath. "He's an extremely dependable guy. He's a smart player. He can play multiple spots at the receiver position on a moment's notice without a lot of reps throughout the course of the week at practice."
Translation: the coaches can trust him not to screw the fundamentals up.
Burks is the swing factor
Robinson did say he felt that his conversation with Fitzpatrick was different in Year 2 than it was as a rookie, citing day-to-day practice inconsistency as the primary reason the young receiver could not make the cut.
Beyond the tail end, Tennessee's receivers are an interesting case study. Woods, Philips and Westbrook-Ikhine are known commodities the team knows can contribute. Hollister can be the week-to-week placeholder as need be. The Titans also signed a 31-year old Josh Gordon to its practice squad this week. It should not be lost on people, however, that Gordon arrives by way of Kansas City Chiefs roster cuts.
Kansas City had a fair amount of turnover in their receiving corps this offseason, but still felt they were better off without Gordon in the mix.
Burks' development has the most potential to change things.
Tennessee's first-round pick is a clear and obvious talent. Burks' offseason and training camp were less than even keel. Preseason revealed nothing as far as the role offensive coordinator Todd Downing may have for the rookie in the Titans system, nor should it have.
For a team with already razor thin margins, Tennessee needs another play-maker to emerge.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
