NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their fourth open practice of training camp on Monday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-The Titans practiced in pads for the first time on Monday, and it was a competitive practice that featured a lot of highlights. The team worked a lot in the red zone.
-I'm going to get to the quarterbacks first, starting with Will Levis.
-In my opinion, Levis had his best practice as a Titan. The second-round pick threw darts in a 7-on-7 red zone period while completing all four of his passes, including three touchdowns. Levis threw strikes to tight end Justin Rigg, receiver Tre'Shaun Harrison and receiver Reggie Roberson Jr. on three straight attempts, and he let out a 'Hell yeah!' on the third scoring toss. Levis ended the period with a completion to tight end Thomas Odukoya. Later in the practice, Levis threw scoring tosses to Racey McMath and Roberson in team red zone periods. I charted Levis at 6-of-7 on the day, with five touchdowns. Levis held the ball too long on his incompletion, as his intended target drifted to the sideline and out of bounds. In 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp, Levis is now 23-of-30.
-Starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill shook off an early INT (his first of camp) and turned in an overall nice day himself. Tannehill's best throw was a scoring toss to receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a red zone period. Tannehill also connected with Kyle Philips and Chris Moore early. Tannehill was 7-of-11 on the day and he's now 38-of-52 in camp in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined.
-Quarterback Malik Willis made some plays as well, and he's continued to be mostly solid in camp. Willis threw a short touchdown pass to Jonathan Ward early, and he had two touchdown passes during a late red zone period. Willis was 5-of-9 in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined, and he's now 21-of-35 in camp. He's also seemed to do a better job being patient, and picking his spots to step up and run, especially in the red zone.
-Receiver Treylon Burks made the catch of the day, a one-handed snag of a pass thrown by Tannehill. Burks went up high to make the grab, and head coach Mike Vrabel signaled touchdown just as he landed. Burks also had a catch from Tannehill in an early period.
-It was cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting who intercepted Tannehill in the early 7-on-7 red zone period. All three quarterbacks have now thrown one INT each through the first four practices of camp.
-Receiver Mason Kinsey and linebacker Monty Rice got into a brief dust-up after a play, but players overall did a nice job of keeping their emotions in check on the first day in pads.
-Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons knocked a ball down at the line of scrimmage.
-Outside linebacker Harold Landry sure looked healthy on one rush that saw him get into the backfield in a hurry.
-I noticed defensive lineman Denico Autry with nice rush.
-Cornerback Roger McCreary showed up to stop the run on an end around by Burks.
-Cornerback Tre Avery was right there on a Julius Chestnut run.
-Chestnut scored a few plays later as he used his big body to move the pile.
-Linebacker Ben Niemann made a nice play defending a run by Tyjae Spears.
-Caleb Murphy showed up quickly on a run by Chestnut.
-Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine made a touchdown catch on a ball thrown by Willis in a red zone period.
-Receiver Colton Dowell snagged a Willis pass out of the air. I noticed Dowell asking a young fan to sign one of his cleats after practice, which was pretty cool.
-Kicker Caleb Shudak was 7-of-8 in today's practice, and he's now 18-of-20 in camp. Shudak was good from 42, 34, 46, 33, 52, 33 and 54 yards, with a miss from 38 yards. Kicker Trey Wolff, who did not kick in the team portion of practice, is 19-of-20 in camp.
-Tight end Josh Whyle practiced for the team on Monday for the first time in camp.
-Defensive lineman Teair Tart and linebacker Luke Gifford did not practice on Monday.
-Cornerback Caleb Farley, who is on Injured Reserve, stepped out a side door at the end of practice. It was the first time I'd seen him during camp.
-Former Titans running back and current TSU coach Eddie George was on hand for today's practice.
-Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was on hand for today's practice.
-Agent Drew Rosenhaus was on hand for today's practice and was seen chatting with Vrabel afterward.
-Charles Davis and Paul Burmeister, who will handle the preseason broadcasts for the Titans on WKRN-Channel 2, attended today's practice.
-Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw was on hand for today's practice.
Next open practice: Tuesday, 9:30-11:15 a.m.
