NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their seventh open practice of training camp on Friday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-It was another rainy, messy day at training camp. The players and coaches got wet, footballs got wet, my notepad got wet, and practice was a little sloppy as well, which was to be expected. Because unlike Thursday, this time there was no lightning and the Titans remained outside throughout the entire practice.
-Two players left the session early with injuries: Tight end Alize Mack and offensive lineman John Ojukwu. Those injuries will be worth monitoring.
-Things were competitive early, as the team went to 1-on-1s, and it was definitely challenging to catch the football in the downpour. Mason Kinsey had a pair of catches in this period, and so did running back Jonathan Ward. Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, Chig Okonkwo, Tyjae Spears, Josh Whyle, and Gavin Holmes all had catches as well. Defenders also made plays here, getting the ball out. Philips and Kevin Rader had drops as well. It was a sign of things to come.
-Kristian Fulton twice broke up passes intended for recevier DeAndre Hopkins in the 1-on-1s, once with Hopkins trying to go up high to catch the ball with one hand. Fulton has not backed down in this competition. Tre Avery won twice in this period, and so did Sean Murphy-Bunting, Kevin Byard, Otis Reese IV, Anthony Kendall and Monty Rice.
-Defensive back Elijah Molden showed a lot of spunk on the final play of the 1-on-1s, as he wrestled the ball out of Okonkwo's hands as the two fell to the ground. Both players slid across the wet grass, onto the sidewalk, and nearly into the feet of fans on hand watching under a tent.
-All the quarterbacks had to deal with wet footballs, and, as mentioned previously, drops on Friday. It was a tough day to excel on offense, and while there were moments, defenders seemed to enjoy the conditions more.
-Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had his first three passes broken up, and he finished the first 7-on-7 just 2-of-6. Tannehill was 3-of-4 in the first team period, however, with completions to Philips, Okonkwo and Burks, but a final 2-minute period was marred with more drops and some sloppy play. Tannehill finished the day 8-of-18 in 7-on-7 and team periods combined, and he's now 62-of-96 in 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp.
-Quarterback Malik Willis completed a beautiful deep ball to Burks during a late team period, and he was victimized by a McMath drop on a strike across the middle. I had Willis at 4-of-9 on the day in 7-on-7 and team periods combined, and I have him at 40-of-69 in six days of camp in 7-on-7 and team periods combined.
-Quarterback Will Levis started out practice wearing gloves on each hand, but by the end of practice he was glove-less. Like the other QBs, the conditions weren't kind to Levis, and he finished the day 3-of-9 in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined. I have Levis at 38-of-64 in the 7-on-7 and team periods so far in camp.
-Levis earned some praise from running back Derrick Henry during a late two-minute period. After an inside run by Levis, Henry stepped in from behind and gave Levis a hand slap, and words of encouragement. Through his ups and downs, Levis has shown some spunk, and I think his teammates have noticed.
-Days like today were built for Henry, as the big back busted into space before kicking it into another gear on several runs.
-Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair keeps earning mentions in here because he keeps making plays on the practice field. Al-Shaair met Henry in the backfield on one play, and then he met Hassan Haskins in the backfield on another. Al-Shaair was once again around the football all day.
-Fulton was flagged for defensive back interference in a late 2-minute period while defending receiver Racey McMath, but I thought it was pretty good defense myself.
-Defensive lineman Jayden Peevy busted into the backfield for a would-be sack in a late team period.
-Outside linebacker Rashad Weaver also busted into the backfield for what probably would've been a sack of Tannehill in the final two-minute period.
-Byard had a nice breakup in the first team period while defending Okonkwo.
-Defensive back Roger McCreary had a nice breakup of Tannehill pass intended for Philips.
-Defensive lineman T.K. McClendon Jr. blew up a run by Hassan Haskins early.
-Defensive back Shyheim Carter nearly had an interception on a Levis pass intended for Kearis Jackson.
-Defensive back A.J. Moore was right there on a Willis pass to Spears.
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens also got the ball out on a pass intended for Okonkwo.
-Safety Mike Brown broke up a deep pass intended for McMath.
-Defensive back Steven Jones Jr. made a nice break-up on another Willis pass intended for McMath.
-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the team releasing tackle Jamarco Jones after a second practice field incident on Thursday. "I'm going to leave it at this," Vrabel said. "We all have a responsibility to the team. I think my job is to protect the team, and the players' job is to find a way onto that team. So we always are going to hold the team in high regard and make sure that everything we do and how we carry ourselves is in the best interest of the team."
-Kicker Trey Wolff was 6-of-7 in a field goal period, with makes from 33, 40, 47, 52, 33 and 43 and a miss from 46, Wolff misfired on a 55-yarder to end a two-minute drill, which made him 6-of-8 on the day. Wolff is now 32-of-36 in camp. Kicker Caleb Shudak didn't kick in the team period today and he's 27-of-29 in camp.
-Kearis Jackson, Eric Garror, Ward, Kinsey, and Philips all caught punts in a special teams period.
-Safety Amani Hooker, defensive lineman Naquan Jones and offensive lineman Corey Levin did not practice on Friday.
-SiriusXM NFL Radio was on hand for today's session, with Mike Keith and Brad Hopkins doing interviews that will air from 3-5 central today.
-Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was on hand for today's practice, along with Kenneth S. Adams IV from the ownership group.
-Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw was on hand for today's practice.
-Evan Washburn of CBS Sports was on hand for today's practice.
-Kevin Clark from The Ringer was on hand for today's practice.
Next open practice: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
