NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for the first day of training camp on Wednesday.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-Before practice even started, Titans GM Jon Robinson delivered some important news, saying the team has a 90 percent vaccination rate. Robinson said the team wants to set a good example for the Nashville community.
-Receiver A.J. Brown practiced for the first time since last season, and he was easy to spot. Brown danced to the music early, then he made plays. A one-handed catch in one-on-one drills was Brown's biggest highlight of the day, but he consistently made catches in 7-on-7 and team drills.
-Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw some darts during the session, including several across the middle to Brown. He also threw a pick. Keep reading to see who got him.
-Left tackle Taylor Lewan also practiced for the first time since suffering a torn ACL last year. Lewan looked good, and he even gave a thumbs-up during a break in individual drills.
-I thought the defense was scrappy, and safety Kevin Byard was right in the middle of it, breaking up passes. Byard broke up a Tannehill pass intended for Brown at the goalline, preventing a score. Byard later got his hand inside of tight end Tommy Hudson's hands to break up another pass near the end zone.
-Safety Amani Hooker jumped a route and intercepted a pass thrown by Tannehill in a 7-on-7 period.
-Tannehill connected with receiver Chester Rogers in a goalline period, one play after connected with receiver Josh Reynolds on a corner route score.
-Defensive back Breon Borders intercepted a DeShone Kizer pass in intended for McMath in 7-on-7 drills. Borders made two really nice plays in the session.
-Running back Derrick Henry never stops working. Case in point: During a break in the action, Henry took his cleats off and worked by running in the sandpit. On a 90-degree day, he was dripping sweat.
-Rookie receiver Racey McMath drew praise from head coach Mike Vrabel after a solid day of practice. McMath made a nice catch in individual drills, and he showed up in other periods as well. McMath caught a touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Logan Woodside in a team period. I raved about McMath in here during the offseason, and for good reason. What's crazy to think about is he's probably 6th on the depth chart at the position right now.
-Vrabel singled out four players as offseason award winners: TE Anthony Firkser, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, DL Larrell Murchison, and DL Teair Tart. Vrabel had some really nice things to say about Tart in his post-practice press conference, following a practice when Tart busted through the line of scrimmage to blow up some running plays.
-Receiver Cameron Batson made three straight catches in a team period, but he had the ball knocked out by defensive back Greg Mabin following his last catch of the threesome, and it would have been a fumble in a game.
-Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons made his presence known on several running plays, when he got nice penetration.
-The kickers had a good day. Tucker McCann was 5-of-5, making kicks from 28, 33, 41, 45 and 46 yards. Blake Haubeil went 4-of-4 from 28, 33, 41 and 45, but he did hit the upright on one of the kicks.
-Julio Jones arrived with a swagger, and he made some catches. But the Titans clearly held Jones back, limiting the veteran's work in some of the drills.
-During a late team period, linebacker Jayon Brown was in good coverage, forcing a throwaway. Inside backer David Long also made a nice breakup a few plays layer. In the same period, Tannehill connected with Brown on a pass in between cornerback Chris Jackson and Byard.
-Kizer connected with rookie receiver Dez Fitzpatrick on a crossing route for a score.
-Defensive lineman Kyle Peko, signed on Tuesday, busted through the line to hit fullback Khari Blasingame on a run play, and on the next play he got his hand on running back Mekhi Sargent on a run.
-Former Tennessee State University football player Christion Abercrombie, who has made a remarkable recovery from life-threatening injuries he suffered in a game against Vanderbilt in 2018, was on the field working in his new role with the team. Abercrombie is serving as a strength and conditioning intern for the Titans during training camp.
Next practice: Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
