NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Brian Callahan talked to reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 42-19 loss to the Washington Commanders.
Here's a look at the hot topics from the presser as the team turns its attention to Sunday's game vs the Jacksonville Jaguars:
-Cornerback Roger McCreary left the game and didn't return due to a shoulder injury, and he'll be evaluated this week, Callahan said.
-Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. left the game with a hamstring strain, and he'll also be monitored during the week, per Callahan.
-Callahan said the Titans had a good week of practice, so he didn't expect to see Sunday's game play out like it did. The Titans fell behind 21-0 after one quarter, and it was 28-0 before the Titans showed a lot of life. "Sort of a compounding of errors early in the game," Callahan said, "led to a lead that was hard to overcome."
-Callahan said the team is considering all options at returner. Jha'Quan Jackson fumbled on a kickoff return on Sunday, and he's had issues returning punts this season as well. "It's all on the table," Callahan said when asked if a free agent could be considered. "Mason (Kinsey) is an option (at punt returner). Obviously, he's done it before. He is certainly an option, and we'll look at all of them."
-Callahan said he was once again happy with the play of quarterback Will Levis, who completed 18-of-37 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 84.5. "I think he did some really positive things again," Callahan said. "He's stacked really four weeks now of growth, and good football."
-Callahan said cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., who has nine penalties on the season, needs to do a better job with his technique to avoid being called for penalties. "He's a young, scrappy player who is playing aggressive," Callahan said. "But he has to clean up some technique and hand placement. He's learning, in this league if you're technique and hand placement aren't right, they're going to flag it. Some of them are hard lessons."
-Callahan raved about receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught his seventh and eighth touchdown passes of the season on Sunday. "Nick is a guy that I point to as a guy who does it the right way all the time," Callahan said. "Everything about how he goes about his business, his approach, his professionalism, is what you want. And you want as many as those types of guys that you can find."
-Running back Tyjae Spears returned to action on Sunday, but he played just 14 plays. Callahan said Spears was limited in practices last week because he was working his way through concussion protocol, which partly explains why he didn't have a bigger role in the game.
-The Titans were penalized 12 times for 93 yards on Sunday. The team had 11 penalties in the first half, which is the most in any first half by any team since the 49ers had 11 in Week 6 of the 2011 season. Callahan said the team needs to do a better job using proper technique. He said the team needs to do a better job of avoiding pre-snap penalties, which he called "inexcusable." "The ones you can control," Callahan said, "you've got to control."
-Callahan said he's hoping to get cornerback Chidobe Awuzie back, and in action, this Sunday against the Jaguars. Awuzie returned to practice last week, but he remains on Injured Reserve.
-Callahan said tackle Leroy Watson, who has missed the last three games with a back injury, is making progress. Callahan said he's hoping Watson will at least be able to return to practice.
