NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Mike Vrabel held a video conference call on Tuesday morning to provide some updates.
Vrabel, who remains in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, hit on these topics:
-Right out of the gate, Vrabel made it known he'll be back at Saint Thomas Sports Park on Wednesday. "I'm fantastic," Vrabel said. "I am feeling great, and I'm excited to be able to get back to work tomorrow."
-Vrabel said the team has already started the process of making roster cuts, and more will be made later in the day, after the team's practice, which is scheduled for 12:15-2 p.m. All NFL teams must be down to 53 players by 3 p.m. today. "There will be some decisions that will be made after practice," Vrabel said.
-Vrabel said he doesn't anticipate anyone coming off the team's Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday before practice. Nine players are currently on the list.
-Vrabel offered some praise for David Quessenberry, who is in the mix to start at right tackle. On Monday, Vrabel said Quessenberry is competing with Ty Sambrailo and Kendall Lamm for the job. "He has performed when he's been out there," Vrabel said of Quessenberry, who started the preseason finale against the Bears. "I think he has shown the ability to function well in our run scheme, the things that we are asking him to do. … I love his competitiveness, his ability. He finishes. And he has proven when he's been out there that we've been able to function as an offense."
-Vrabel said outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who hasn't played in the preseason, has made progress in his recovery from last year's ACL injury. "Bud has continued to progress, and we've put a little bit more on him each day in the last week or so," Vrabel said. "So, he'll work today, and we'll continue to monitor him and see how he feels as he words toward his return to play. Hopefully he won't have any setbacks and we'll continue to add to his workload."
-Vrabel acknowledged he's been "miserable in his basement" at times during his COVID-19 quarantine, and he said he put that on display during a recent video conference call with reporters.
-Vrabel said "it's a valid question" when asked how tough it is to evaluate players like running back Darrynton Evans and safety Dane Cruikshank, who missed a lot of time in August. "It's an important question, and it's one that (GM) Jon (Robinson) and I discuss frequently," Vrabel said. "It's the battle that you wage between potential and what you have been able to actually witness. So, I think it's hard."
-Vrabel said Robinson will handle the face-to-face conversations with players as they're being released today, since he's in quarantine. But Vrabel said he'll have the opportunity to reach out to the players, while noting "some of them will be back with our football team."
