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Colton Dowell Colton Dowell Opens camp on PUP
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 7:13 PM
The Titans placed Dowell (knee) on the active/PUP list Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Dowell was placed on the Titans' injured reserve list in January after rupturing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee in Week 17, so it's no surprise that he will begin training camp on the PUP list. The 2023 seventh-round pick out of UT Martin played in 10 regular-season games in his rookie season, registering one catch for three yards as well as three tackles across 139 special teams snaps. |
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Mason Rudolph Mason Rudolph Competing for No. 2 job
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 6:49 PM
Rudolph has split reps evenly with Malik Willis to kick off training camp and will be given a chance to win the No. 2 job, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Will Levis (foot) beat out Malik Willis for the starting role under center in Tennessee last season, and now Rudolph is slated to compete with the latter for a backup role. The 29-year-old spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh and ended up throwing for 719 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions across four games in 2023. He even finished the regular season with three consecutive wins. His competition, Willis, is entering his third year with the Titans after being selected in the third-round in 2022. |
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Tony Pollard Tony Pollard Interchangeable with Spears
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 2:49 PM
Speaking Tuesday, Titans coach Brian Callahan said he doesn't view Pollard or Tyjae Spears as the clear-cut "starter" in the backfield, and both are "starting players," Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website reports.
Analysis: "The fun part for me is: How are we going to deploy those guys?," Callahan said. "Maybe they both play at the same time, maybe one gets hot and you let him run, maybe we just rotate back and forth. I don't know what that's going to look like yet. But they are both going to play quite a bit of football for us, and I don't view either one of them as a starter or a backup. They are both starting players to me." This sounds like typical coachspeak at this point of training camp, and it's worth noting Pollard was handpicked by this coaching staff when he was inked to a three-year, $21.75 million deal on the first day of free agency. It's also worth pointing out that Callahan used a true three-down workhorse in his time with the Bengals, riding Joe Mixon as a legitimate three-down back, a skill set Pollard possesses. Pollard is coming off an inefficient 2023 season in Dallas, but he's now more than a full year removed from his broken fibula and is still just 27 years old and smack-dab in his prime. For fantasy purposes, Pollard should still be viewed as the clear-cut RB1 in Tennessee, with Spears as the change-of-pace who could handle a couple series here and there to give Pollard a breather. |
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Kyle Philips Kyle Philips Not assured roster spot
Thu, Jul 11, 2024, 5:42 PM
Philips is expected to enter training camp fighting for a roster spot, John Glennon of the Nashville Post reports.
Analysis: Philips, a 2022 fifth-round pick, secured 15 of 22 targets for 181 yards across nine appearances last season, and he never managed to play more than 50 percent of offensive snaps. With Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd joining DeAndre Hopkins atop the depth chart, and 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks still vying for opportunities, Phillips finds himself competing for limited reserve roles, and rookie sixth-round pick Jha'Quan Jackson also projects as a slot option and return man. |
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Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins Returns to field
Tue, Jun 4, 2024, 2:35 PM
Haskins (undisclosed) has participated in OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Haskins spent all of 2023 on IR with an unknown injury, but he appears to be healthy and recovered now. The Michigan product will likely be battling Julius Chestnut for No. 3 running back duties behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears leading up to the start of the 2024 campaign. |
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Julius Chestnut Julius Chestnut Back from injury
Mon, Jun 3, 2024, 6:28 PM
Chestnut (hamstring) participated in OTAs in May.
Analysis: The running back spent most of 2023 on injured reserve, playing in only three games. Chestnut participated in six contests as a rookie the year before. Now that he's back, he'll get to compete for a role in the backfield behind free-agent signee Tony Pollard. |
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Josh Whyle Josh Whyle Back on field
Tue, May 21, 2024, 4:37 PM
Whyle (knee) participated in OTAs on Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Analysis: Whyle closed last season on injured reserve, but he was back on the field participating in practice as the Titans held offseason workouts. The 2023 fifth-round selection looked bigger and sturdier than last year, according to Wyatt. |
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Will Levis Will Levis Moves past foot issue
Tue, May 21, 2024, 4:33 PM
Levis (foot) participated in 7-on-7 drills during Tuesday's OTA session.
Analysis: Back in February, Levis -- who was slowed by a foot injury late last season -- relayed that he was close to 100 percent at that time. At this stage, the second-year QB appears to have put the issue behind him, and on Tuesday Levis got in some work with the Titans' top wideouts, a group that includes free-agent additions Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, along with returnees DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. With veteran RyanTannehill no longer in the mix, Levis approaches the coming season as the team's clear-cut top QB, backed up by Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis. During his rookie season, the Kentucky product completed 149-of-255 passing attempts for 1,808 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions in nine starts. |
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Nick Vannett Nick Vannett Traveling to Tennessee
Mon, May 13, 2024, 3:29 PM
The Titans signed Vannett on Monday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The veteran tight end has spent time with six different teams across his eight-year career, and he's now headed to Nashville after agreeing to terms with the Titans. Vannett most recently played with the Chargers, tallying 125 offensive snaps across eight games and recording one reception for three yards in 2023. Expect the 31-year-old to compete for a depth role in Tennessee's tight end room as the offseason progresses. |
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Treylon Burks Treylon Burks Still has role in crowded WR room
Thu, May 9, 2024, 3:38 PM
Coach Brian Callahan said Thursday that Burks still has a role in Tennessee's wide receiver corps after the team's signing of veteran slot specialist Tyler Boyd, Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean reports.
Analysis: Callahan said of Burks' offseason "the work that he's put in has been really impressive," per Turron Davenport of ESPN, but the 2022 first-round pick may nonetheless have slid to No. 4 on the depth chart following Boyd's arrival, with Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins entrenched as Will Levis' clear top targets. The 225-pound wideout could still certainly have untapped potential, as he's battled injuries throughout the first two years of his NFL career, but his path to consistent opportunities has grown murkier despite Tennessee most ignoring the WR position in April's draft. For fantasy purposes, at least, Burks' prospects for 2024 will look dim if he's not able to beat out Boyd for the No. 3 role in training camp. Callahan did, at least, say that Burks will earn opportunities to line up both inside and outside. |
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Tyler Boyd Tyler Boyd Finds home in Tennessee
Tue, May 7, 2024, 12:02 PM
Boyd and the Titans agreed to terms Tuesday on a one-year contract worth up to $4.5 million, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Boyd becomes the newest member of a revamped Tennessee wide receiver corps that added Calvin Ridley atop the depth chart in free agency, joining DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. Ridley and Hopkins figure to operate as Will Levis' clear top targets, as both exceeded 1,000 receiving yards last season. Boyd's experience as a slot option could make him the favorite to secure the No. 3 role over Burks, who lined up in the slot over 60 percent of the time last year. In both 2018 and 2019, Boyd himself topped 1,000 yards, but in four seasons since took a clear backseat to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with the Bengals. |
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Calvin Ridley Calvin Ridley May be used like Ja'Marr Chase
Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 1:29 PM
Titans coach Brian Callahan told ESPN's Kevin Clark that he envisions Ridley's role as being "very similar" to what Ja'Marr Chase did for the Bengals.
Analysis: Chase is bigger, stronger and probably also faster, not to mention he has Joe Burrow throwing him the ball rather than Will Levis. Still, it's promising that Callahan -- the former offensive coordinator in Cincinnati -- hopes to have Ridley mimic Chase's usage, as the 2021 fifth overall pick got a lot of easy receptions the past two years, including 35 targets behind the line of scrimmage in 2023 (tied for second most among WRs). Ridley saw eight passes behind the line last season in Jacksonville and got only 22 percent of his targets between the numbers, whereas Chase drew 44 percent of his looks in the middle part of the field. The Titans do have other solid options for screens and quick passes, however, with Ridley joined by DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks at wide receiver, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard. |
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Treylon Burks Treylon Burks Drops to third on depth chart
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 12:20 PM
Burks profiles as the Titans' No. 3 receiver following the signing of Calvin Ridley, according to Mike Moraitis of Titans Wire.
Analysis: Assuming the Titans keep DeAndre Hopkins, there's really no room for Burks to sit any higher than third on the depth chart, even though he was a first-round pick just two years ago. The 225-pound WR missed six games in each of his first two NFL seasons while battling a variety of injuries, and he dropped from 444 yards as a rookie to 221 in his second season. From a real-life standpoint, Burks might actually be better off in a low-pressure role as the No. 3 receiver behind two established starters, but the tough competition for snaps and targets equates to a lower fantasy ceiling / lesser breakout odds all the same. The worst-case scenario would entail Burks losing the No. 3 role and sliding even further down Tennessee's depth chart. |
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Will Levis Will Levis Gets new No. 1 WR as Henry departs
Thu, Mar 14, 2024, 11:51 AM
Levis (foot) will enter the 2024 NFL season with new skill-position talent, headlined by Calvin Ridley being slated to join the Titans on a four-year, $92 million contract, and by Derrick Henry set to be replaced by Tony Pollard in the backfield, Turron Davenport of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Tennessee adding a hopeful true No. 1 wideout in Ridley is arguably just as impactful as Henry's tenure as the franchise face finally coming to an end. Ridley joins veteran DeAndre Hopkins, giving Levis two proven pass-catchers who both surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 2023, allowing Treylon Burks to slide down to the No. 3 role and benefit from lesser defensive coverage. On paper, Levis now looks set to benefit from one of the best three-receiver groups in the league, while the recently re-signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is a capable fourth man. Pollard, meanwhile, isn't nearly the between-the-tackles bruiser that Henry was, but he brings true three-down versatility and a skillset that's more interchangeable with second-year pro Tyjae Spears, allowing the Titans to swap both backs out freely without hinting at any specific playcall. Levis said in February at Super Bowl LVIII that he was already "close" to healthy, per Jim Wyatt of the team's official site. |
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Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Staying with Titans
Thu, Mar 14, 2024, 8:23 AM
Westbrook-Ikhine is signing a one-year contract to stay with Tennessee, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: He reaches the agreement a week before his 27th birthday, following a third straight campaign in the range of 350-500 receiving yards with either three or four touchdowns. Westbrook-Ikhine started 29 of his 47 games the past three years but is more likely to come off the bench now that the Titans have added Calvin Ridley to a WR room that returns DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. At this point, Westbrook-Ikhine should be recovered from the hand injury that sent him to injured reserve for the final three games of the 2023 regular season. |
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Calvin Ridley Calvin Ridley Landing in Tennessee
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 4:18 PM
The Titans and Ridley agreed to terms Wednesday on a four-year, $92 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Ridley was initially reported to be choosing between New England and Jacksonville as potential landing spots in free agency, but he now becomes the new No. 1 wideout for second-year quarterback Will Levis (foot) in Tennessee. His deal reportedly includes $50 million guaranteed, a notable sign of long-term confidence. Last season, in his first NFL action since 2021, Ridley put together a 76-1,016-8 receiving line while playing in all 17 regular-season games for the Jaguars. His speed and route-running prowess will nicely complement fellow wideouts DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks, providing the Titans with a solid three-receiver corps alongside new top running back Tony Pollard and third-year tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo. |
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Mason Rudolph Mason Rudolph Linking up with Tennessee
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 4:07 PM
The Titans are signing Rudolph to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Rudolph could be the favorite to beat out Malik Willis for the top backup spot behind Will Levis (foot), considering his solid showing in Pittsburgh last year. He led the Steelers to three consecutive wins to close out the regular season, before the team suffered a wild-card playoff loss at the hands of Buffalo. The veteran's presence will provide Tennessee with an experienced signal-caller in an otherwise young QB room. |
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Julius Chestnut Julius Chestnut Returns to Tennessee
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 1:18 PM
Chestnut (hamstring) is re-signing with the Titans on a one-year contract, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Chestnut appeared in six games with Tennessee as a rookie in 2022 but was limited to three appearances in 2023 before going on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. Once healthy, he'll compete for a depth role in a backfield now headlined by free-agent signing Tony Pollard rather than Derrick Henry. |
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Tyjae Spears Tyjae Spears Faces new competition in Pollard
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 10:57 AM
Spears faces a new backfield situation that's set to add Tony Pollard via a three-year, $24 million contract, while Derek Henry remains slated for free agency, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports.
Analysis: Spears, a 2023 third-round pick, is coming off a strong rookie season in which he compiled 838 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns, showcasing versatility and explosiveness despite only getting one chance to handle double-digit carries in a game. The Titans' decision to sign Pollard appears to simultaneously signal the end of Henry's era with the team. Spears could have an easier path to genuinely competing for touches with Pollard, whereas Henry was firmly entrenched as a true lead back, and both players profile similarly. Spears and Pollard are each versatile and elusive runners, which will allow Tennessee's offense to swap both players off the field relatively freely. Spears and Pollard look the part of a solid 1-2 punch, though for fantasy purposes it's possible they could both limit each other from attaining a true workhorse workload. |
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Tony Pollard Tony Pollard Set to sign with Tennessee
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 11:55 AM
Pollard is slated to sign a three-year, $24 million deal with the Titans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: With the looming move, it appears as though Derrick Henry will be playing elsewhere in 2024, while Dallas will be in the running back market in free agency and/or the draft. Pollard is now slated to join a backfield that also includes 2023 third-rounder Tyjae Spears, a context that figures to result in some form of an RB timeshare in Tennessee this coming season. |
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