NASHVILLE – The Titans returned to the practice field on Thursday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park to continue preparations for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at some Titans topics in quick-hitting fashion:
-Derrick Henry hasn't been on a team that started 0-2 since he was at Yulee High School.
The Titans running back doesn't like it, and he sure doesn't want to find out what 0-3 feels like.
But Henry said on Thursday it's no time to panic.
"It's a little adversity," Henry said. "But the sky is not falling. We know we'll be fine, we just have to stay with it. We know we have the men in the building to get it done. It takes a lot of hard work and improving, and as coach says, getting back to the basics."
Henry knows the running game needs to do more, however.
Through two games, Henry has just 107 yards on 34 carries, an average of 3.1 yards per carry.
"We all have the same mindset – getting back to the basics, doing what we do, doing what we know how to do, and go out there and execute it," Henry said. "It takes all 11. We have to be better. I have to do my part to get better, and it takes all 11."
-Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring), inactive vs the Bills, practiced again on Thursday on a limited basis.
-Titans running back Dontrell Hilliard (hamstring), inactive vs the Bills, practiced again on Thursday on a limited basis.
-Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan (knee) did not practice on Thursday for the second day in row.
-Titans outside linebacker Bud Dupree (hip) did not practice on Thursday for the second day in a row.
-Titans defensive back Ugo Amadi (ankle) did not practice on Thursday for the second day in a row.
-The Titans added linebacker Zach Cunningham (knee) to the Injury Report on Thursday. He was listed as a limited participant.
-Titans receiver Treylon Burks (ankle) practiced again on Thursday. Burks was a full participant on Thursday after being listed as limited on Wednesday.
-Titans receiver Kyle Philips (shoulder) practiced again on Thursday, once again on a limited basis.
Philips on Thursday chatted with reporters at his locker, and he said he wants to make plays for the team moving forward. Philips made no excuses for his muffed punts in back-to-back weeks.
-Titans outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi (neck), limited in Wednesday's practice, did not practice on Thursday. Instead, Adeniyi worked on a side field.
-Titans defensive lineman Denico Autry, who didn't practice on Wednesday, was back at practice on Thursday.
-Linebacker Joe Jones (hamstring) practiced again on Thursday on a limited basis.
-The Titans on Thursday promoted TE Kevin Rader to the active roster while placing OL Jamarco Jones on Injured Reserve.
Rader (6-4, 250), signed to the practice squad earlier this month, played seven games for Pittsburgh over the past two seasons, totaling two receptions for eight yards and three special teams tackles.
He said in the locker room on Thursday he's ready for the opportunity.
Here's the interview below:
-Outside linebacker Wyatt Ray, signed to the team's practice squad earlier in the day, practiced with the team for the first time in 2022.
Ray returns to the Titans after spending time with the team during the 2020 season.
Ray played in 15 games, with one start, for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. Ray recorded 17 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble for the Bengals a year ago. He played in four games for the Titans in 2020, when he tallied two tackles and a sack. Ray was with the Jaguars during the offseason, but he was released in August.
I chatted with Ray before practice.
The quick interview is below:
-Titans ST coordinator Craig Aukerman said Kyle Philips, Amani Hooker, and Robert Woods are all in the mix at punt returner, but he said no decision has been made on who will be returner on Sunday.
At kick returner, Aukerman said Hassan Haskins did a nice job on Monday night after Trenton Cannon was injured. The plan was for Julius Chestnut to work at kick returner in Thursday's session as well, and Dontrell Hilliard will return to the mix, too, if he's healthy enough to play.
-The Raiders released their second Injury Report on Thursday, and it looked like this: C Andre James (concussion), DT Bial Nichols (shoulder), RB Brandon Bolden (hamstring) and FB Jakob Johnson (hamstring) were all limited in today's practice. DE Chandler Jones (NIR) and T/G Jermaine Eluemunor (hip) were full participants. DT Neil Farrell Jr. (shoulder), S Tre'von Moehrig (hip), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle) and WR Hunter Renfrow (concussion) did not practice. The Raiders added RB Josh Jacobs (illness) to the injury report on Thursday, and he did not practice.
-The Titans are scheduled to practice again on Friday before holding a walkthrough on Saturday leading up to Sunday's game vs the Raiders.
-Check out some more of today's interviews below:
