NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their seventh open practice of training camp on Sunday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-The Titans practiced in pads for the fourth session in a row.
-The Titans receivers and defensive backs worked in 1-on-1 drills in the red zone early, while the o-linemen and d-linemen worked on drills with a pass rush emphasis. Early, the Titans worked in a 12-play team period. After a kickoff return period, the Titans worked in a low red zone period, with three live goal-line snaps from the one-yard line. The team then worked in a 12-play third down pressure period. Toward the end of the session, the team's offense worked backed up near the goal line, on plays designed to get out of a hole. The defense tried to bottle the offense up. The team ended practice with a field goal period.
-After a slow start, quarterback Will Levis heated up and finished strong. Levis completed just two of his first six passes in team and 7-on-7 periods, in part because defenders made good plays. But Levis completed 6-of-8 to finish practice, and he ended the day 8-of-14 in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined. I now have Levis at 83-of-119 with three interceptions in 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp.
-A few years ago, receiver Kyle Philips created a lot of buzz for himself in training camp, as he excelled in workouts, and in joint practices. As a rookie, Philips was a media darling, a fifth-round pick who was shifty, and new. Well, Philips seems like a forgotten man now, perhaps because of all the newcomers at his position. Philips is still plugging away, and he's quietly been having a really good camp. Head coach Brian Callahan even gave him a shout-out on Sunday, following a session when he caught four passes, including two touchdowns. Through seven open practices in camp, my unofficial tally shows Philips with 14 catches in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined. By my count, only two other Titans have more.
-Quarterback Mason Rudolph continues to be sharp, and accurate. On Sunday, Rudolph was a perfect 11-of-11 in team periods, and 2-of-4 in 7-on-7 work. Rudolph threw one of the touchdown tosses to Philips in a low red zone period, and he found Philips, who made a diving catch, on a play later in practice. I now have Rudolph at 64-of-76 with one INT in the 7-on-7 and team drills in camp, which is an impressive percentage of 84.2 percent.
-Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine made probably the catch of the day on Sunday when he went up high to snag a Rudolph toss in a 7-on-7 period. Westbrook-Ikhine had two defenders around him, but he still managed to go up in the back of the end zone and come down with the pass. I had NWI with three catches on Sunday.
-Quarterback Malik Willis threw his first interception of training camp on Sunday, but otherwise had a pretty good day himself. I had Willis 6-of-8 in team work, and 3-of-4 in 7-on-7, to finish the day 9-of-12. Willis connected with Philips on a touchdown in 7-on-7, hitting him with a bullet across the middle. I now have Willis 48-of-70 in 7-on-7 and team work so far in camp, with the one interception.
-It was safety Matthew Jackson who intercepted Willis. Jackson's INT in a back-up offensive period was his third of training camp. Jackson leads all Titans.
-Cornerback Robert Javier nearly intercepted Willis in the 7-on-7 period.
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens stuffed the run when Tony Pollard looked for room on one play, and he tipped a Levis pass, causing an incompletion.
-Cornerback Roger McCreary keeps showing up with nice plays.
-Later in practice, Pollard exploded up the middle for a touchdown in the low red zone period.
-I mentioned Mason Kinsey in here yesterday, saying hardly a day goes by when I don't notice him for one reason or another. Kinsey proved me right on Sunday, on another eventful day. Kinsey had a scary collision with the goalpost pad early in practice, and he stayed on the ground for a bit. Later, he was on the receiving end of a Rudolph pass, an he celebrated by doing the Salsa dance. Kinsey had three catches himself on Sunday.
-It was a good day for rookie Jha'Quan Jackson, who had three catches, and a touchdown.
-Cornerback Tre Avery had a nice pass break-up on a Levis pass intended for Calvin Ridley in 7-on-7, and he knocked a Levis pass to NWI to the ground for a PBU.
- Kicker Nick Folk was a perfect 6-of-6 on the day, and he's 16-of-17 on field goals so far in camp. Kicker Brayden Narveson is 9-of-13 in camp.
-Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee), Chidobe Awuzie (calf), safety Jamal Adams (rest), cornerback Caleb Farley (hamstring), cornerback Anthony Kendall, guard Saahdiq Charles (personal), receiver Tre'Shaun Harrison and linebacker Luke Gifford did not practice.
-Linebacker Garret Wallow left practice early, and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is dealing with a blister on his big toe, per Callahan.
-Running back Hassan Haskins had a nice run up the middle, and he's been a consistent performer in camp.
-Linebacker Kenneth Murray shows up each day.
-I've seen rookie linebacker Cedric Gray making a few more plays himself of late.
-Receiver Colton Dowell began camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not practice.
-NFL Network was on hand for Sunday's practice, with Ian Rapoport and Sarah Walsh.
-Charles Robinson from Yahoo Sports was on hand for today's practice.
-In was "Family Fun Day" at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, as family members of the players, coaches and team employees attended today's practice.
Next open practice: Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
