NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans cornerback Perrish Cox sat out the first three preseason games, and he didn't play much on Thursday night against the Dolphins.

Still, Cox did enough to put himself in the right frame of mind heading into the regular season, and he did enough to impress his head coach, Mike Mularkey.

"He played more than the rest of the regulars and he looked good,'' Mularkey said of Cox. "He was moving around very well. I think he's back."

Cox, sidelined the first three games of the preseason with an ankle injury, started Thursday's game and ended up playing three defensive series, not counting the one-play series when the Titans forced a fumble – and recovered it – on Miami's first offensive play of the game.

While the rest of Tennessee's starters headed to the bench, Cox remained in the game.

He worked some of the rust off, he said.

"I didn't really get the action I wanted, but to get the game feeling and be back out there with my teammates, it was good,'' Cox said. "I wasn't able to get that game feeling before (Thursday). So to get some action, get some contact, I think that was enough. I've been in (the NFL) long enough, so I know what to expect."

Cox, who signed with the Titans as a free agent last offseason after playing previously with the Broncos, 49ers (twice) and Seahawks, played in 13 games last year after earning a starting spot. He had an interception, and also tallied 31 tackles and seven passes defensed.

Mularkey has said Cox will start opposite cornerback Jason McCourty when the regular season begins, on September 11 against the Vikings.

Cox said he'll be ready.

"These guys are ready around me,'' Cox said. "We've had a great preseason around here, and just to go into the first game next week as, 'Hey, the preseason is over and it counts from here on out.' I think everyone has the same attitude, and we're ready to get going."