NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their fifth open practice of training camp on Wednesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-The Titans practiced in pads for the second day in a row.
-After some spirited 1-on-1s with receivers and defensive backs, the Titans skill players worked in a 16-play 7-on-7 period with the defense while o-linemen and d-linemen worked in 1-on-1s with a pass emphasis. The Titans worked in a 16-play team period early before working in an unscripted team period that consisted of 12 plays, before another unscripted "red zone lockout" period. Practice ended with an unscripted live tackle period with the third teamers.
-During a special teams kickoff period, the Titans tried a number of combinations at returner. Treylon Burks and Tyjae Spears were back deep first, followed by Kyle Philips/Mason Kinsey, Jha'Quan Jackson/Jabari Small, Kearis Jackson/Sam Schnee and then Tre'Shaun Harrison/Eric Garror.
-Burks had a good day on Wednesday, starting with the 1-on-1s, when he got open twice for catches. He carried that over into other periods, including an early team period, when he hauled in a deep ball thrown by quarterback Will Levis. Burks looks confident, and in good shape.
-Levis was sharp early, and he had a mostly solid day. Levis completed his first 10 passes in the session, including four straight in the opening team period, and then the first six of 7-on-7. Levis cooled off a bit late, but he made a great throw across the middle of the field to tight end Chig Okonkwo in the red zone lockout period. I had Levis 9-of-15 in team drills, and 6-of-7 in 7-on-7, making him 15-of-22 for the day. I now have Levis 63-of-88 with two interceptions in 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp.
-The bullet to Okonkwo was nice, but cornerback Tre Avery forced a fumble when he knocked the ball out of Okonkwo's grasp as he headed toward the goal line. Avery pounced on it in the end zone.
-It didn't take long for me to notice linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat. The two defenders combined to stop Spears on a run play in the opening team period.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson talked about both Murray and Sweat before practice.
-Receiver Tyler Boyd made the catch of the day, going up high over cornerback Roger McCreary to haul in a Levis pass downfield. Boyd had three catches in today's session.
-Giving former University of Tennessee running back Jabari Small some love up high. During the red zone lockout period, Small took a handoff and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.
-Quarterback Mason Rudolph continues to be accurate, and efficient. Rudolph connected on 6 of his 7 passes in team periods, and he was 2 of 3 in 7-on-7, making him 8-of-10 on the day. I now have Rudolph 41-of-48 with one INT in the 7-on-7 and team drills in camp.
-Rudolph's most celebrated completion was a touchdown pass to tight end Thomas Odukoya late. Odukoya caught a short pass and raced 12 yards for a touchdown. Odukoya, who has greatly improved since first joining the team a few years ago, spiked the football hard to the ground as his teammates celebrated.
-I watched a portion of practice alongside former Titans tackle Brad Hopkins, now with SIRIUSXM and 104.5 The Zone. During one particular play, Hopkins recognized tackle John Ojukwu for a nice set while blocking defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons on the right edge.
-Receiver Calvin Ridley had three catches today, and so did receiver Kyle Philips, Boyd, Odukoya and Okonkwo.
-Edge Rashad Weaver knocked the ball out of the hand of Rudolph on one rush – and it looked like it was by accident.
-Edge Arden Key showed up with a number of nice rushes on Wednesday.
-Edge Harold Landry has flashed the past two days, and he said after practice he's getting stronger each day after missing time early with an illness.
-Malik Willis completed 7-of-9 passes in team periods, and he was 1-of-4 in 7-on-7 work, making him 8-of-13 for the day. It was Willis who led the offense during the third-team period with live tackling. I now have Willis at 33-of-48 in 7-on-7 and team work so far in camp.
-During the unscripted period, edge Jaylen Harrell made a number of plays, both in run defense and as a pass rusher. I had him with a sack of Willis. Linebacker Cedric Gray also recorded a stop.
-A day after intercepting two passes, defensive back Matthew Jackson showed up early in run support. Jackson stuffed running back Hassan Haskins at the line of scrimmage on an early run.
-Running back Tony Pollard made a really nice cut and got himself into space during an early team period.
-Simmons was active on Wednesday, right there on a screen pass to Spears and moving the o-line back on a number of plays.
He spoke to reporters after practice:
-Rookie receiver Jha'Quan Jackson made an outstanding catch on a ball thrown by Willis, catching the football as he slid to the ground. Coaches will surely talk to Jackson about staying up, but it was a nice catch nonetheless.
-Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. continues to impress. He's feisty, and tough. Brownlee gave onlookers a brief scare when he was tended to by trainers, but he returned and said he's fine.
-Defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day showed up with a nice play in run support.
-Linebacker Otis Reese IV had a nice pass breakup.
-Cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally had a nice PBU as well.
-Murray and tight end Josh Whyle exchanged words, and they didn't sound like friendly ones.
-Kicker Nick Folk was a perfect 4-of-4 on his field goal attempts, from 30, 33, 39 and 45 yards, making him 10-of-11 on field goals so far in camp. Kicker Brayden Narveson is 6-of-6.
-Chidobe Awuzie (calf), safety Jamal Adams (rest), and cornerback Anthony Kendall were not spotted at practice.
-L'Jarius Sneed returned to practice.
-Game officials worked the practice for the second day in a row.
-Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and Kenneth Adams from the team's ownership group watched today's practice from the owner's balcony at the facility.
-Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw attended today's practice.
-Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and receiver Colton Dowell began camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not practice.
-Current Titans season ticket members and prospective new Nissan Stadium season ticket members were among those who attended today's practice.
Next open practice: Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
