Why Josh Malone is turning heads at Titans OTAs
Unproven and inexperienced are two adjectives one could use to describe the majority of wide receivers the Tennessee Titans have under contract. The Titans underwent a big shakeup at the position this offseason, but the early returns on former Tennessee Vols wideout Josh Malone are cause for optimism. Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the […]
Unproven and inexperienced are two adjectives one could use to describe the majority of wide receivers the Tennessee Titans have under contract. The Titans underwent a big shakeup at the position this offseason, but the early returns on former Tennessee Vols wideout Josh Malone are cause for optimism.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Malone’s first four years in the league didn’t go as planned. He started seven games for the Bengals in 2017, catching six passes for 63 yards and one touchdown. After catching just one ball in the following season, the Bengals parted ways with the 6-foot-3 pass catcher.
Malone spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the New York Jets, seeing little playing time in his timewith the team. Malone was down on his luck, spending the 2021 season out of work. However, a call in February from his hometown Titans opened the door for a second chance in the NFL.
Malone’s experience in the NFL gives him an advantage over most of the other 11 receivers Tennessee has under contract. While the position battle will be highly competitive, in parting ways with A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, Malone has a legitimate shot at making the Titans’ 53-man roster.
Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com joined the Titan Up Podcast and shared his thoughts on Malone.
“If you would’ve asked me a guy who has maybe impressed a little bit that you didn’t expect to during OTA’s, I would say Malone,” said Wyatt. “He has a long stride, he’s gotten behind some guys, he’s caught the ball well. I think the question with him is ‘Can he help [the Titans] on special teams?’”
Listen to the full Titan Up Podcast interview with Wyatt here.
Though the Titans might not be done adding to wide receiver room, Malone is capable of giving players such as Racey McMath, Dez Fitzpatrick, and Mason Kinsey a run for their money for one of the team’s final roster spots.
Still with a long way to go before the season gets underway, Malone has established himself as a player to watch for the next few months. He played his high school ball at Station Camp High School in Gallatin, TN, so he will have plenty of fans in his corner.
Every so often a story like Malone’s develops when a player, who has struggled to catch on, finds the right opportunity at the perfect time. Nobody knows whether or not Malone will be on the Titans’ active roster come Week 1, but his performance will certainly be closely monitored moving forward.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
