NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Titans just wrapped up practice on Friday at Saint Thomas Sports Park.
On Sunday, the team will face the Raiders.
Five quick hits — yes, two bonus hits — after today's practice:
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McBride to handle kick returns** The Titans will have a new kick returner on Sunday – rookie receiver Tre McBride.
McBride replaces Dexter McCluster, who suffered a knee injury against the Jaguars and is out.
"I'm next man up," McBride said. "I am pretty happy about the opportunity. Hopefully I can help the team win."
McBride, who was promoted to the active roster prior to the Jacksonville game, averaged 23.1 yards per return on kickoffs at William & Mary. A seventh-round draft pick by the Titans, McBride is known for his speed.
"If we can give him a crease,'' interim coach Mike Mularkey said of McBride, "he can go."
McCluster has averaged 21.9 yards on 13 kick returns this season.
"Speed and one-cutting. I am a one-cut guy, which is pretty much the standard you should use when you are a kick returner, you hit the seam as quick as you can and get upfield,'' said McBride, who will also be a gunner punt coverage. "Every time I get the ball on kickoff return I am aiming for the other end zone."
Harry Douglas and Perrish Cox could split duties on punt returns, Mularkey said.
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Spain on the starting offensive line**
Undrafted rookie Quinton Spain will start at left guard vs the Raiders, alongside rookie center Andy Gallik.
Veteran Joe Looney started at left guard against the Jaguars.
Mularkey said he likes Spain's size and smarts. Spain (6-4, 330) made team as an undrafted free agent from West Virginia.
"The key is to do my job to help us win, and to have fun,'' Spain said. "I am so excited."
Respect for Raiders
The Raiders are ranked 12th in the NFL in total offense, and ninth in passing offense.
Through 10 games, second-year quarterback Derek Carr has already thrown 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
"He is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league,'' Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh said. "I think his poise *— *he throws a hell of a deep ball, and he has some great receivers. We're going to have our work cut out for us."
The Raiders have a pair of dangerous receivers in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
"Those guys are a dynamic duo,'' Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said.
Orakpo called Cooper, a first round pick out of Alabama, a "stud."
"He is polished, he can catch the ball really well, he runs great routes,'' Sensabaugh said of Cooper. "And Crabtree is playing really well, and then they have (Seth) Roberts in the slot. They have a great offense. They look like the old Raiders from back in the day."
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McCourty recovering**
Cornerback Jason McCourty made an appearance on the practice field, and in the locker room on Friday.
McCourty was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve earlier this month, and had a second surgery on his groin.
McCourty said he's rehabbing the injury, and said he's already working to be ready for 2016. He said doctors told him he'd be healed in six weeks.
"The most frustrating part is this has been a lingering injury since last year,'' McCourty said. "At the end of it I think I'll be 100 percent and ready to go next year, so that is what I am focusing on."
Injury Report
McCluster (knee) and defensive lineman Al Woods (ankle) have been ruled out for Sunday's game.
Linebacker Derrick Morgan (shoulder) did not practice on Thursday, and he's listed as questionable on the team's Injury Report. Mularkey said the Titans are considering promoting linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil from the practice squad to the 53-man roster in time for Sunday's game.
Receiver Kendall Wright (knee), defensive lineman Sammie Hill (knee) and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (hamstring) are all listed as probable after practicing fully on Friday.
