Titans training camp notebook, Day 2: Defense strikes back, Robert Saleh addresses viral Jets claim
Tennessee Titans training camp updates from Thursday also include the return of Calvin Ridley, and Tyjae Spears offensive usage.
The Tennessee Titans wrapped their second training camp practice Thursday with the offense doing push-ups, a role reversal from Wednesday’s day one session when the defense paid the price.
The Titans’ defense bounced back on day two, and coach Robert Saleh addressed a viral Jets storyline as well.
Also worth noting, right tackle JC Latham is off the PUP list. Easton Freeze wrote about that development, and the positive news does not stop there for the Titans’ young tackle.
Ridley’s return from the stomach bug
I’ll kick things off with an update on wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley returned to the practice field Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session with a stomach bug that caused him to lose some weight. He looked fresh and healthy, participating fully in team drills and 7-on-7 work. Ridley ran routes against cornerback Cordell Flott while working with quarterback Cam Ward, and there is no concern on that front.
Defense delivers a statement on Day 2
Freeze: The Titans offense spent Day 1 getting the ball rolling with shorter, underneath completions without pushing the ball downfield. Day 2 felt different. Quarterback Cam Ward and the passing attack tried to stretch things to the intermediate and deep parts of the field, and the result was a genuine back-and-forth affair between the offense and defense.
The defense came out on top in several of those exchanges. Ward was intercepted on a pass intended for wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson that was tipped and scooped up by linebacker Cedric Gray. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky also threw an interception to safety James Williams in traffic. Both Gray and Williams are entering their third NFL seasons, and both seized the opportunity to make a play.
Beyond the turnovers, cornerback Eric Howlett added a pass breakup, and rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. recorded one of his own. It was a strong showing for the defense overall as they matched the offense snap for snap. The real test comes Monday, when the Titans put the pads on for the first time this summer.
Tyjae Spears’ role in the passing game is worth watching
Stanley: The player I want to zero in on from Thursday’s practice is running back Tajae Spears. His usage in the screen game and in the passing attack more broadly is something I plan to keep tracking throughout camp. Tennessee knowingly has both of its top running backs in Spears and Tony Pollard entering the final years of their contracts. Pollard remains the primary starter after going for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons with the Titans, but the question becomes how the coaching staff can maximize both players before one or both hit free agency.
I think Spears’ pass-catching ability paired with his explosiveness makes him a name to watch. We saw flashes of this during OTAs and minicamp, and under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s scheme, Spears could become a pretty fun weapon that adds another dimension to a receiving group Tennessee has invested heavily in building around Ward.
The Titans are clearly trying to squeeze every bit of value out of this backfield tandem while they still have both players on the roster. With Spears and Pollard both playing on expiring deals, how Daboll deploys them this season carries roster-construction implications beyond 2026.Spears carving out a defined role in the passing game would go a long way toward answering that question.
Robert Saleh responds to Fireman Ed’s viral claim
Freeze: Before practice, Saleh addressed a claim that originated on a Jets fan podcast. Jets superfan Fireman Ed said he had heard from people at a celebrity golf tournament in Utah earlier this summer that Saleh had been walking around the course telling fans he planned to kick the Jets’ tail in Week 1. That would be the same Jets franchise that fired Saleh during his first head coaching stint.
When asked at the podium whether there was any truth to the story, Saleh didn’t exactly deny it.
“I don’t know, man. I was just made aware of it like 15 minutes ago. I must have had over 1,000 fan interactions at that event, so who knows. But I mean, isn’t that the objective anyway though, man? Like, I don’t think the Jets are coming here week 1 to sit at the 50-yard line and roast their marshmallows and talk about our summer. So we’re getting after it, they’re getting after it, and may the best team win,” Saleh said.
Is it meaningful that he walked around telling fans that, which he did not deny? No, it’s not. I’m sure he did it. I’m sure he said it about every fan base any fan yelled out that he plans on beating them. But is it funny? Absolutely.