NASHVILLE – We're a week into training camp.
The Titans have held five open practices so far, and on Wednesday the team is scheduled for a walk-through.
During a quick break, I'm going to roll out ten things I've noticed so far.
-Rookie quarterback Will Levis is getting better. I thought Levis had his best day as a Titan on Monday, when he completed four straight passes during a red zone period, including three touchdown tosses. Levis followed that up with another nice stretch on Tuesday during an unscripted "Call It" practice – he threw touchdowns on three consecutive passes once again while getting work with the 2s.
-Veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill picked up where he left off following a solid offseason. Tannehill has been accurate and in command, and he doesn't miss a chance to communicate with his teammates during breaks in the action. On Tuesday, I overheard him talking with some of the team's receivers about what he's looking for when they break into space. Tannehill is 46-of-62 in the 7-on-7 and team periods combined so far in camp.
-Kristian Fulton looks good. During the offseason, there was plenty of buzz surrounding the fourth-year cornerback because of his absence from offseason work, and questions about his health. But Fulton showed up for in camp in shape, and he's been solid through the first five sessions.
-DeAndre Hopkins can still make plays. I'm not sure how many folks questioned this, but I've seen it already in camp. Hopkins has regularly come down with the ball even when well defended, and there have been stretches where he's offered big reminders of why he's been one of the league's best receivers over the past decade.
-The offensive line is a work in progress. Even Mike Vrabel has acknowledged it – the o-line had some struggles early in camp before settling down a bit when the pads came on Monday. But it's very clear the Titans need more consistent play across the board here, and questions remain. With right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere facing a six-game suspension to start the year, the Titans are looking for someone to step up. Jamarco Jones has gotten some work, but he also missed a day and he was booted out of practice early on Tuesday. The team signed Chris Hubbard early in camp, so he's getting work at right tackle as well. Meanwhile, the interior has been challenged, along with left tackle Andre Dillard. This group needs to keep getting better.
-Arden Key has made his presence known. Key is usually the first guy you hear coming out the door, and he's also been noticeable in practices coming off the edge. It's raised the question: Is Key on the verge of a breakout season, or is he exposing problems on the o-line with his effectiveness? I guess the answer could be both. Time will tell, but Key looks like he's capable of giving the defense a big boost in 2023.
-The kickers are making kicks. The Titans are letting Caleb Shudak and Trey Wolff compete in camp, and both kickers have missed just two kicks so far. Wolff, an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech, is 26-of-28 so far in camp, while Shudak is 18-of-20. The pressure will increase in joint practices and preseason games before the Titans will have a decision to make: Do they feel comfortable going with one of the young kickers, or is a better, veteran option available in free agency?
-Other receivers are making plays. I mentioned Hopkins earlier. Well, Treylon Burks has also consistently been good through the first week in camp, and others are making plays as well. Chris Moore and Kyle Philips have been busy, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has made some catches, too. The group behind these guys is going to really be worth watching as the team decides how many receivers to keep. Racey McMath, Mason Kinsey and Colton Dowell are all in the mix, but Tre'Shaun Harrison and Reggie Roberson Jr. have turned in impressive practices this week as well. Also, Kearis Jackson looks like a tough kid.
-It's great to see Harold Landry back. After missing the entire 2022 season with a knee injury, Landry has brought some real speed back to the defense. The work Landry did over the past 11 months prepared him for what he's doing now. Landry hardly looks like a guy coming off a serious knee injury.
-Jeffery Simmons is still a beast. I could end this with a few names of guys who have flashed, but that would mean I did 10 things without mentioning one of the most dominant players in every practice – defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. Not a practice goes by when Simmons isn't wreaking havoc up front. The big guy plays with great effort, and he's been a dominant force who has been nearly impossible to block.
