NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their first practice of training camp on Wednesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-It was a pretty action-packed first day. There was plenty of chatter, some really good competition, and some eye-catching plays right out of the gate.
-Quarterback Will Levis settled in pretty nicely in the competitive periods, which included a 7-on-7 period and two long team periods. Levis was 4-of-4 in the first 7-on-7 period, and 3-of-4 in his second set of reps in 7-on-7. When the Titans went to the team periods, Levis completed 2-of-3 passes in his early reps, and after a break, he came back and completed 2-of-5 throws. Levis wasn't perfect on Wednesday, as the group worked off some rust, but I had him at 11-of-16 in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined, and I felt like he had a solid day overall.
-I got my first look at safety Jamal Adams in a Titans uniform, and one thing that stood out is he's pretty stout. Adams fills out the No.33, and he looked pretty smooth on a blitz of Levis that would have resulted in a sack in a game. Adams talked to reporters after practice, when he expressed his excitement about being in Nashville.
-All eyes were on defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat at the start, considering we didn't see much of him in the offseason. The team's second-round pick showed some pretty good footwork on the bags, and he said afterward he felt good. Some of Sweat's offensive teammates razzed him a little bit at one point later in practice about being tired, but there were several guys feeling it on the first day back.
-I kept noticing linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. on Wednesday, perhaps because it was his first full day on the field since being signed earlier in the offseason. Murray was in the backfield on a number of plays, which would have resulted in tackles for a loss. Murray spent most the offseason working on a side field, not participating in drills.
-Rookie edge rusher Jaylen Harrell was the first player out the door and on the practice field on Day 1 of camp, and he made some plays as well. I thought it was a pretty impressive start for the team's seventh-round pick.
-It was great to see punter Ryan Stonehouse back on the field. Stonehouse, injured at the end of last season, was hitting bombs on his first day back. After practice, Stonehouse said he's optimistic about things moving forward.
-In a special teams period, Jha'Quan Jackson, Kyle Philips, Eric Garror, Mason Kinsey and Kearis Jackson all fielded punts.
-On the practice script, the words "Nothing Vertical" set limitations for the offense. No one wanted to see a hamstring pull on the first day of camp, right? The Titans worked in one 12-play, 7-on-7 period, and they worked in a pair of 12-play team periods.
-Titans receiver Treylon Burks looked to be in really good shape, something GM Ran Carthon hinted at the day before. Burks looked smooth catching the football away from his body on Wednesday, using his big hands in open space. But Burks was upset with himself after he slipped on one rep, which ended a potential big play early.
-Receiver DeAndre Hopkins makes everything look so easy, including catching football with one hand. He did that at least once on Wednesday.
-Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons was especially boisterous. I heard him – and saw him disrupting things – all morning.
-There was some sloppiness on Day 1, as I counted a drop (Tyler Boyd on a low pass that hit his hands) and three fumbles. Levis pitched the ball too high to running back Tony Pollard on one rep, and the ball ended up on the ground. Levis tripped over someone's foot and went to the ground on another play just as he was handing the ball off to running back Tyjae Spears.
-Tight end Chig Okonkwo had a pair of catches in the early 7-on-7 work, and during the 7-on-7 led by Levis, tight end Josh Whyle, receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Boyd (2) and Spears all had catches.
-The best throw of the day by Levis was on an outbreaking route by Westbrook-Ikhine, who made a really nice grab on the sideline, and got two feet down. Westbrook-Ikhine had a really busy day out of the gate.
-Quarterback Mason Rudolph was 4-of-4 in the first 7-on-7 period, and he completed both his passes in team period reps, to NWI and Whyle. Rudolph was 6-of-6 on Wednesday in the 7-on-7 and team work combined.
-Quarterback Malik Willis was sharp as well. Willis went 4-of-4 in his 7-on-7 work, and he was 1-2 on his team reps. Willis tucked the ball and ran with it on anther team rep.
-Linebacker Otis Reese IV forced a fumble by receiver Bryce Oliver, but Oliver got it back.
-Tight end Thomas Odukoya made a tough catch across the middle, and someone yelled "It's a man's game" as he turned to race upfield.
-I mentioned Harrell earlier – he forced a fumble by tight end Nick Vannett, and Adams jumped on it.
-Kinsey caught one pass from Rudolph and another from Willis in the early 7-on-7.
-Big defensive lineman Quinton Bohanna blew up the line of scrimmage on a Dillon Johnson run.
-Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn and offensive lineman Andrew Rupcich exchanged some shoves during a mini-tussle, but cooler heads prevailed.
-Rookie JC Latham had no trouble moving Bertha early in practice.
-Ridley looks to be in great shape as well, and he made a nice snag on a Levis pass across the middle.
-Defensive back Roger McCreary made a really nice break-up on a pass intended for Ridley, and nearly recorded an interception.
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens broke up a Levis pass intended for Westbrook-Ikhine.
-Edge rusher Arden Key got his hand on Spears in the backfield on one run. Key and Sweat met in the backfield on a Pollard run late.
-Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, along with Kenneth Adams and Barclay Adams from the team's ownership practice, attended today's practice.
-Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill and edge rusher Harold Landry did not practice.
-Defensive back Chidobe Awuzie went inside early.
-Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and receiver Colton Dowell began camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not practice.
-Former Titans lineman Brad Hopkins of SIRIUSXM attended today's practice.
-Pete Prisco from CBS Sports attended today's practice.
Next open practice: Thursday, 9-10:30 a.m.
