NASHVILLE – Titans Coach Brian Callahan held a press conference on Monday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, one day after his team's 30-27 preseason win over the Saints.
Next up: A big round of roster cuts, and then the regular season opener at the Chicago Bears on September 8.
Here's a look at the hot topics from today's presser:
-Callahan shared some unfortunate news at the start: Linebacker Chance Campbell is out for the season after an MRI revealed he suffered a torn ACL vs the Saints. "We'll lose him for the year with the ACL," Callahan said. "He was playing about as good a football as you could ask from a guy. He was coming on strong, and playing a really good brand of football for us. Heartbroken for him – he was doing everything we've asked from him, and he was doing it really well. Disappointed for him, disappointed for us."
-Linebackers Otis Reese IV and Luke Gifford remain in the concussion protocol, but Callahan expects both of them back soon. Tight end Josh Whyle could also be cleared in the near future, Callahan said.
-Rookie linebacker Cedric Gray continues to deal with a nerve-related shoulder injury, Callahan said, and his timeline for return is unknown.
-All NFL teams, including the Titans, must trim to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon. Callahan said it's his least favorite part of the year. "You have relationships with these guys – they play hard, they practice hard, they do everything to ask," Callahan said. "It is not a process that is not very enjoyable. It is not fun, because of the amount of respect you have for guys and what they have done, how they go about their business."
-Callahan raved about back-up quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis, but he did not reveal the team's official plans behind starter Will Levis, nor did he provide hints on what's coming up. Under NFL rules, the team must carry a quarterback on the 53-man roster to be able to use him in an emergency situation on gamedays. "I am excited about what they've done," Callahan said of the quarterbacks. "Whether that means we keep 3, or we keep 2 and put one on the practice squad, or we just keep 2, we're working through those decisions over the next 48 hours. But they've certainly made that decision hard, and that's their job."
-The Titans executed a number of screens on offense on Sunday against the Saints. Callahan said it's an area the team has worked on, while noting room for improvement. "The screens have been productive in the preseason in general," he said. "The reason I called a lot of them is because we needed to work on them, and teach off of them. I would say as good as they were, they could be a whole lot better. I think we left some yards on the field on all of them really. … It will be a huge part of what we do, and we'll keep finding ways to be creative with the screens."
-Callahan had very positive things to say about a pair of undrafted free agents – tight end David Martin-Robinson and receiver Bryce Oliver. Callahan said both players have made great strides. He called Martin-Robinson the "poster child" for what it takes to make the team as a UDFA. "He's really ascended," Callahan said of DMR. "Every chance he's gotten, he's gotten better. Every chance he's had to make a play, he's made it. He's been fantastic."
-Callahan said the Titans have done a lot of preliminary work to prepare for the Bears, so they'll spend extra time this week working on themselves, and what they can improve on. "We're mindful of getting some guys back healthy, and still getting some work in," Callahan said. "And maybe a little more focus on our process and then you start the game week when you start the game week."
