NASHVILLE — There’s more than just one reason why the Tennessee Titans have started the 2024 season with an 0-2 record.

The unforced errors from quarterback Will Levis are an obvious one. Tennessee's defense failing to generate any takeaways is also a factor. And of course, the offensive line play has been less than stellar.

Levis has been the most pressured quarterback in the NFL through two weeks. Against the New York Jets in Week 2, right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was an especially obvious liability.

NPF allowed nine pressures and allowed a sack against the Jets.

I was fairly high on NPF’s potential before the season began. The former Ohio State Buckeye showed promise as a rookie in 2022 after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started 16 games and was a pleasant surprise. 

2023 was much rockier. A gambling suspension kept Petit-Frere out of the team facility for the beginning of the season and an injury sidelined him for good shortly after his return.

But with a clean bill of health in 2024 and an offensive line guru in Bill Callahan coaching him, this seemed to be the year for Petit-Frere to prove himself. He earned the starting job during training camp. Things just haven't clicked as well to start the regular season.

On the bright side, Petit-Frere would be the first person to tell you that he needs to be better. When I spoke with the third-year offensive tackle in the titans locker room this week, he didn't shy away from his detrimental play. NPF told me that he's not playing up to his standards or the standards that come with being a Titan.

"I was not happy with myself after the last game. It was not up to my standard. I didn't play the way I was supposed to play. It became compiling things one after the other," Petit-Frere told me. 

How does he go about bouncing back? "Freaking fight. You've got to fight. That's the main thing that Bill (Callahan) talked about. Coming out here with an attitude. Coming out here with toughness. Coming out here and saying I'm not gonna let someone get past me. It's about throwing hands and making it a fist fight," Petit-Frere said. 

NPF said he was told his play was not up to the standards of an NFL tackle. He added that he needs to do a better job of throwing his hands, "being a dude," and bringing the fight to the defensive line.

He is hoping to prove himself capable in Tennessee's Week 3 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Titans and Packers will kick off at 12pm from Nissan Stadium.

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