NASHVILLE – Titans Coach Mike Vrabel held a press conference on Monday, one day after the team's 27-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here's a look at the biggest topics from the presser:
-Vrabel led off the presser with an answer on what he liked about Sunday's win.
Check the video below:
-Nicholas Petit-Frere is back in the building and now eligible to play after the NFL reduced his suspension to four games, but Vrabel gave no indication he'd immediately get his old job. Petit-Frere started 16 of 17 games at right tackle a year ago. "Nick has been away for a little bit – he was with us in training camp," Vrabel said. "We'll see where things go. I like the way Chris (Hubbard) is playing over there (at right tackle). We'll just see how he looks this week."
-Vrabel said guard Peter Skoronski, who has missed the past three games with an emergency appendectomy, should return to practice this week. "He's feeling better, getting stronger," Vrabel said. "We'll hopefully have him at practice this week and see how he does." Later in the presser, Vrabel didn't rule out some o-line shuffling.
-Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught a team-high five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, and on his 13-yard touchdown catch he bulldozed his way into the end zone past Bengals defenders. "I thought it was a great effort to get into the end zone – he looked determined," Vrabel said. "Nick has worked hard. He's worked hard to know a lot of different spots, plays a role on special teams. He kind of just keeps showing up, whether on a catch or on a huge block – he had a nice block on Derrick (Henry's) touchdown run."
-Vrabel also complimented the versatility of rookie tight end Josh Whyle, who had two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. "He has a good catch radius," Vrabel said of Whyle. "And I like how his attitude is – he's willing and just continues to improve."
-Edge rusher Trevis Gipson played just three snaps against the Bengals, but he showed up big. Gipson recorded a sack of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and a forced fumble. "He'll play more," Vrabel said of Gipson, formerly of the Bears. "(He's) learned the system, learned the calls and what we're doing. So it was great to see him. He'd been working extremely hard and I know he wished that he was out there, but what he did was take advantage of the opportunity he got, and earned more opportunity."
-Vrabel liked the way middle linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Jack Gibbens played on Sunday. Gibbens was credited with a team-high 10 tackles, while Al-Shaair tallied nine stops and two quarterback hits. "I thought they were efficient," Vrabel said. "And I thought they both made some plays."
-Vrabel said receiver Mason Kinsey has done a nice job returning punts since taking over for an injured Kearis Jackson. Kinsey is averaging 12.5 yards on four returns. "That's not only Mason, but that's a testament to those guys on that unit," Vrabel said. "Mase has done a nice job." Vrabel didn't give a definitive answer on if Kinsey would keep the job when receiver/return Kyle Philips returns from his knee injury. Vrabel indicated on Friday that Philips would return to practice this week.
-Vrabel said the Titans have a "huge test" on the road this week against the Colts, who are also 2-2. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson "is a big, physical, fast quarterback who is going to be a huge challenge this week." As a team, the Titans just need to keep getting better, Vrabel said. "We just have to be more consistent," Vrabel said. "Our focus is on … trying to execute the keys each week and take care of the football, and be able to get off the field on third down and all these things, affect the quarterback."
