NASHVILLE – The Titans returned to the practice field on Monday.
A big round of roster cuts is coming on Tuesday, and a big game is coming up next – the regular season opener at New Orleans on September 10.
Let's take a look at the developments of the day …
-Titans rookie receiver Colton Dowell, a Lebanon, Tennessee native who played at Tennessee-Martin, has had a blast since being drafted in the seventh round by the team back in April.
In a year of firsts, Dowell played for the first time at Nissan Stadium on Friday night after previously going to games as a fan of the team. Dowell caught two passes for 49 yards in the contest.
"It was super cool," Dowell said on Monday. "I got on the field and felt extremely blessed and grateful that God put me in this situation. Not only (were) my mom and dad (there), but I had like 17 of my family members there, and it was just a blessing to look up and be able to pick out a face in the crowd that I know. It's unbelievable."
Dowell, of course, doesn't want the journey to end any time soon.
The Titans must cut their roster from 81 to 53 players by Tuesday.
He hopes he's done enough to stick around.
"(The veterans) tell me to keep my head up, and to stay positive," said Dowell, who recorded three catches for 55 yards in the preseason. "As far as hard work goes, I think I put all I could out there."
-I wrote a separate story on Titans receiver Treylon Burks returning to practice on Monday.
CLICK HERE to read that story.
Titans receiver Kyle Philips is also on the mend, also recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the preseason game at Minnesota.
Burks and Philips have lockers next to each other in the locker room.
"It's good to have someone to go through treatment with, to go through (this) together," Philips said. "It's been a process."
Philips said he's thankful he can come back this season, but he's not sure when.
"(Recovery) is going good," Philips said. "They got me in this brace, feeling real good. I am able to walk around. So, it's going well. … I don't really have any timeline, I am just taking it day by day, trying to get better each day."
-Earlier on Monday, Titans lineman Dillon Radunz passed a physical and was removed from the team's Physically Unable to Perform list.
Radunz, a second-round pick of the team in the 2021 NFL Draft, suffered a knee injury in the team's December 18 contest against the Chargers and finished the season on Injured Reserve.
Radunz practiced with the team on Monday for the first time since last season.
"I am going to play wherever they need me, and wherever I can play," Radunz said. "We'll see what happens. I am just kind of trusting the process right now. There's a lot of unknowns left, but you have to give it your all."
-Titans Coach Mike Vrabel said Chris Hubbard is the team's starting right tackle at the moment, while noting there are other competitors, and the competition continues.
Hubbard has worked with the first team in the preseason.
A nine-year veteran, Hubbard signed with the team in July. He has played in 85 career games, with 48 starts, while playing for the Steelers and Browns.
"Coming in and continue to get better – that is my main objective," Hubbard said. "I just having to keep stacking these days. I just want to take advantage of the opportunity and get better each day."
-The Titans currently don't have a kicker after releasing Michael Badgley on Sunday.
Vrabel promised one will be added in the coming days.
"I think that'll, again, be a fluid situation and we'll keep looking through a lot of different options," Vrabel said. "Whether we bring guys to work out, whether we sign guys, see who kind of comes available and work through some things. We obviously are going to need one."
-The Titans returned to the practice field on Monday.
While the team isn't required to put out an Injury Report until next week, here's a look at the developments from today:
Running back Hassan Haskins, tight end Josh Whyle, edge rusher Arden Key, guard Daniel Brunskill, defensive lineman Jayden Peevy, offensive lineman John Ojukwu, defensive lineman Tyler Shelvin and Philips did not practice.
In addition to Radunz, tight end Chig Okonkwo, lineman Jaelyn Duncan and linebacker Monty Rice were all back at practice after missing time.
