NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The assumption has been that the Titans' starting middle linebacker job will go to Colin McCarthy, a defensive captain a year ago. Moise Fokou (Foh-koo), one of Tennessee's free agent signees this offseason, has made it into a competition.
Fokou has worked with the first-team defense all but one day since signing with the Titans. A day after McCarthy worked with the first-team unit for the first time this year, he found himself dealing with yet another injury.
"That position has been an issue unfortunately for Colin for the two years he's been here,'' coach Mike Munchak said. "We wanted to make sure we had more depth, a couple younger players.''
The Titans thought they had found their middle linebacker for years to come when they drafted McCarthy in the fourth round out of Miami in 2011. He started seven of his 13 games as a rookie. Teammates voted him a defensive captain last season, but the 6-foot-1, 243-pound McCarthy struggled with a concussion and an ankle injury that required surgery when the season ended.
So the Titans signed Fokou this offseason, a linebacker listed with the same height and weight as McCarthy but with much more experience. Fokou has started 23 of his 59 games after spending his first three seasons in Philadelphia and last year with Indianapolis. He has 144 career tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
"Moses has got tremendous athleticism, excellent intensity,'' linebackers coach Chet Parlavecchio said. "I love him. He plays a relentless style of football and again he imposes his physicality.''
The Titans also signed Greg Jones and drafted Zaviar Gooden in the third round in April out of Missouri.
Adding Fokou showed its value last week. McCarthy practiced with the first-team defense Wednesday and hasn't practiced since after aggravating his right hamstring. He is out this week and will not play Thursday night in the preseason opener against Washington.
McCarthy thinks the hamstring might be related to his ankle and more soreness than an injury.
"I'm not frustrated,'' McCarthy said. "I think more than anything I'm confident. I think when I had the pads on, when I hit people, I felt great. And coming from my injury with my ankle, coming from my injury with the concussion the past season I kind of answered those questions I have. A small little injury like this or a setback is nothing compared to what I've overcome this past season.''
Fokou said he knows he was brought into be one of the older players in the linebacker meeting room for a team that let veteran Will Witherspoon leave after last season. He also is versatile enough to play outside linebacker.
"At the end of the day, I want to be on that field,'' Fokou said. "I want to contribute and I want to help that team win.''
Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray would like to sit down with Munchak and decide on his starter no later than the third preseason game against Atlanta on Aug. 24. Making a fair assessment of both linebacker would be best if both Fokou and McCarthy have had equal work with the first-team defense.
Health may make that decision easier.
"You got to be available to play, and you know I think that was one of the reasons we got a chance to bring Fokou in ...,'' Gray said. "Colin's a really good football player, but you still got to be healthy to go out there and play in the game.''
McCarthy knows who starts is a decision for Munchak and the coaches.
"My biggest thing is to be healthy and be available,'' McCarthy said. "That's always been my kind of thought process through this whole thing. ... When the time counts we got the 16 weeks and we kick off against Pittsburgh, that's when I need to be 100 and I need to be ready to go.''
NOTES: K Rob Bironas (back) missed another practice Monday and may not play Thursday night. Rookie OL Brian Schwenke, still out with an injured left hamstring, will not play against Washington.
