NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Brian Callahan talked to reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Here's a look at the hot topics from the presser as the team turns its attention to Sunday's game at the Houston Texans:
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens had ankle surgery this morning and is headed to Injury Reserve, which will end his season.
-Running back Tyjae Spears begins the week in concussion protocol, and he'll be monitored during the week.
-Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who remains on IR, is expected to return to practice soon, either this week or next week.
-Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed is not expected to return this week as he continues to deal with a quad injury.
-Callahan said some linebackers could get extended work following the injury to Gibbens, even mentioning rookie Cedric Gray and James Williams. Callahan also said veteran linebacker Jerome Baker, who played 61 snaps against the Vikings, stepped in and did a good job. "You can manage those guys," Callahan said. "I think there's some opportunities there for sure."
-Callahan said he's been pleased with the progress of quarterback Will Levis, and believes he's gained confidence in his return from his right shoulder injury. "There were some real encouraging things," Callahan said, "and things that are exciting about how he played in that game."
-The Titans hadn't been flagged for an illegal formation penalty all season until Sunday, when right tackle Isaiah Prince was penalized on three occasions. Callahan said it's a subjective call, and the team coaches it. "They felt like we weren't (lined up correctly)," Callahan said of the officials. "That's not for me to debate about, they called it, so we have to make sure we line up better. … But we haven't had a problem with that all season long."
-Callahan was asked if he'd instruct safety Mike Brown to do anything different if faced with a similar play that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty in the end zone. His answer: No. "I think that what he did was within the letter of the law, it was a legal play," Callahan said of Brown's hit. "I know part of that process was whether he launched or not, and I didn't think that was the case. … I thought it was a really nice play. It was a hell of a play to dislodge the ball from the receiver on a legal hit, and (I'm) disappointed that it got flagged. I wouldn't tell him to do anything differently. I thought that was a pretty clean and textbook hit."
-Callahan acknowledged "nothing has been good enough" regarding the team's right tackle position, "and I've not been a part of something that's been so hard to settle down and find some continuity and consistency."
-Callahan was asked if the number of Vikings fans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday bothered him. Callahan said, "when you play well, and win games, people come. For us to have our Titans fans at the stadium, supporting us, we have to win more games. We have to do our part to make sure people want to come."
