NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Brian Callahan talked to reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 32-27 win over the Houston Texans.
Here's a look at the hot topics from the presser as the team turns its attention to Sunday's game at the Washington Commanders:
-Callahan said the Titans came out of Sunday's game pretty clean from an injury standpoint.
-Callahan said the Titans will open the practice window for cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who remains on Injured Reserve. The team will evaluate him during the week before making a determination on whether he'll be activated to the 53-man roster this week. Callahan he's been pleased with the play of cornerbacks Jarvis Brownlee and Darrell Baker, and Awuzie will add to the mix. "We're going to need all the bodies, and capable players we can find," Callahan said.
-Callahan said safety Amani Hooker, who missed Sunday's game with an illness, is feeling better today and should be good to go moving forward. Callahan complimented Daryl Worley for stepping in and playing well in Hooker's absence on Sunday.
-After watching the game again, Callahan said linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. "had a really, really nice game." Murray had an interception, two quarterback pressures and a team-high seven tackles against the Texans.
-Callahan praised quarterback Will Levis for his outing, and continued improvement. Levis threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the game, an interception, and a passer rating of 123.3. "I hesitate to make any proclamations or anything like that," Callahan said when asked about Levis and whether he could be a long-term solution at the position. "But I've just been really happy with the way Will has progressed. He's played winning football from that position, really over the last three weeks, and I'd like to see it continue." Callahan said there's another level for Levis in regards to his play, from avoiding sacks to making quicker decisions in his progressions. "I think there's another level we can get to," Callahan said, "and unlock for him."
-Callahan said the Titans have to get the sack numbers down. "We can't give up eight sacks a game and feel like it's going to be good enough," Callahan said. "It's partly on Will, it's on the line, it's on me. … We can all do a better job to get that fixed."
-Callahan acknowledged it was a tough game for left tackle JC Latham, who was beaten on two of the sacks. "It wasn't his best game," Callahan said of Latham. "He gave up the one sack early, and he had trouble rebounding from it, and just getting back into the flow of the game. Just one of those games for a rookie. … That game yesterday was not JC's best game by far, and we need him to be better than he was."
-Callahan said right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere played better than he did in previous weeks. "That was probably one of his better games," Callahan said. "JC had a dip, and I think Nic had an uptick. I think he played better in this game than he had in the last few, so that was encouraging."
-Tackle Leroy Watson IV missed his second straight game on Sunday with a back injury and his status moving forward is unclear at this point. "We'll know more on Wednesday," Callahan said. "We'll see where that goes."
-Callahan praised rookie defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat, who recorded his first career sack on Sunday, a day when he was credited with three quarterback pressures. "He's been everything we thought he would be when we drafted him," Callahan said of Sweat. "If you asked Ran (Carthon), he'd feel the same way. He's a phenomenal person, he's a great personality, he plays hard. … Everything we believed in he's given us, and shown us."
