NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Dexter McCluster is back, and he's ready to add another weapon to the Titans.
On offense, and on special teams.
"I definitely pride myself on being that spark when I need to be,'' McCluster said Thursday. "When things are in a lull, I want to do something big to spark the team. It has been working pretty good for me during my career, and hopefully that will continue.''
McCluster, one of the team's captains, has missed the last two games with a knee injury he suffered back on November 19 at Jacksonville.
Prior to the injury, McCluster tallied 18 catches in the previous five games. He scored the team's only touchdown on a 25-yard scamper against the Panthers on November 15.
McCluster also served as the team's punt returner the first 10 games of the season.
Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey said McCluster's been missed. Harry Douglas and Perrish Cox both got chances returning punts in his absence.
"When we put the game plans together on Mondays and Tuesdays, it is a little harder to game plan (without him),'' Mularkey said of McCluster. "When you don't have a Dexter you are trying to figure out how you can get some match-up problems with other people. He is a match-up problem. We try to use him to get him in different positions. It makes it harder. Not having him for punt returns, I trust these other guys, but they are not Dexter when it comes to returning punts."
It remains to be seen how much McCluster helps in the run game. He's currently third on the team in rushing (51 carries, 235 yards), behind running back Antonio Andrews (466 yards) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (249 yards).
Last week, the Titans used David Cobb and Andrews in the run game. Cobb ran for 40 yards on 13 carries against the Jaguars
"I'll help wherever I can,'' McCluster said. "It feels good to be back. You really don't miss practicing until you can't practice. The training staff did a good job of getting me out there a fast as possible. It is all a mindset, if you think you are healthy you are going to be healthy and I got back as fast as possible.'
