NASHVILLE – The Titans returned to the practice field on Thursday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park to continue preparations for Sunday's game vs the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here's a look at today's developments:
-Titans linebacker Luke Gifford has been in the league for six seasons, but he'd started just one game before last week.
On Sunday, with injuries at the position, Gifford stepped in, and he played well.
"I thought Luke did a really nice job handling the green dot communication," Coach Brian Callahan said. "That was something that was very new for him and he hadn't done that a while. To be able to communicate to the defense and then run the show as the MIKE linebacker was great."
Gifford tallied a career-high 11 stops against the Jaguars, including a tackle for a loss. He also added a special teams tackle.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson on Thursday also complimented Gifford, who lined up opposite fellow inside linebacker Otis Reese IV. Gifford has been one of the team's top performers on special teams since joining the squad prior to the 2023 season.
"It was awesome to get an opportunity," Gifford said. "The biggest thing for me was just the confidence the coaches had in me, and they had enough to give me the opportunity, so I really appreciated that. It was good to be out there."
With Kenneth Murray Jr. recovering from a hamstring injury, and now Reese on the Injury Report with an ankle injury, Reese is in line to start once again this Sunday against the Bengals.
"There's always things to clean up," Gifford said. "Underneath coverage and things like that could have been a little cleaner. And I think it is always about communication and being comfortable being out there with everybody. With the experience, that will come. So, hopefully we can carry that into this week."
Now, for all the injury updates from Thursday:
-Titans quarterback Will Levis (right shoulder) practiced in full for the second day in a row.
-Receiver Tyler Boyd (foot) practiced in full.
-Kicker Nick Folk (groin) practiced in full.
Callahan said Folk is dealing with soreness. The Titans added kicker Brayden Narveson to the team's practice squad for "insurance."
-Linebacker Kenneth Murray (hamstring) did not practice.
-Running back Tony Pollard (ankle) did not practice.
-Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (NIR-Rest) practiced in full.
-Nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat (shoulder) practiced in full.
-Linebacker Otis Reese (ankle) did not practice.
-Linebacker Jerome Baker (neck) practiced in full.
-Linebacker Luke Gifford (calf) practiced in full.
-Cornerback Roger McCreary (shoulder) practiced in full.
-Guard Peter Skoronski (ankle) practiced in full.
-Left tackle JC Latham was spotted at practice, but not during part of the early portion. He was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's session.
-The Titans placed tackle Jaelyn Duncan on the team's 'Designated for Return' list last week, when he practiced for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in the team's October 20 game against the Bills.
The return to practice designation opened up a three-week window for Duncan to practice with the team, and he will not count against the team's 53-man roster until being activated from Injured Reserve.
Duncan practiced in full again Thursday.
-The Bengals released their second injury report of the week on Thursday, and it looked like this:
Tackle Orlando Brown (fibula), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (NIR-Rest), DT BJ Hill (NIR-Rest), linebacker Joe Bachie (groin), receiver Charlie Jones (groin) and defensive tackle Sheldin Rankins (illness) did not practice. Quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist/knee), receiver Tee Higgins (NIR-Rest) and tackle Amarius Sims (NIR-Rest) were limited in practice. Defensive tackle Jay Tufele (wrist) practiced in full.
Next practice: Friday, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
