NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans traded with the Browns for running back Terrance West over the weekend, and the team also claimed linebackers David Bass (Bears) and Steve Johnson (Broncos) off waivers.
All three practiced on Wednesday, and should have a role with the team this season.
I caught up with all three players after practice.
Terrance West
As a rookie, West led the Browns with 673 yards last season while scoring four touchdowns.
He was surprised to learn he'd been traded.
"It caught me off-guard,'' he said
With the Titans, West joins a stable of running backs that includes Bishop Sankey, Antonio Andrews and Dexter McCluster. David Cobb is on short-term Injured Reserve.
"When a team trades for you, that means they want you, they want you a lot," West said. "I appreciate the Tennessee Titans giving me that opportunity to showcase my talents. I love it, it's a young team, some great athletes in here. So it's team I want to help contribute to winning.
"I can catch, I can block, and I can run. I can do it all,'' West said. "I just have to show it."
David Bass
At outside linebacker, Bass (6-4, 256) gives the Titans some experience behind starters Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. He played in 20 games over the past two seasons with the Bears, including two starts.
He said he's learning the playbook, and is studying every night. He worked a bunch on special teams with the Bears during the preseason, he said.
Bass said coaches in Chicago told him it was a numbers game with the Bears, who planned to bring him back to the practice squad after releasing him over the weekend. But the Titans grabbed him.
"When they brought me in here, I knew I had to have a sense of urgency,'' Bass said. "I have to be ready and get the plays down so I can go out there and help as quickly as possible"
Steve Johnson
Johnson (6-1, 237) is an inside linebacker who played in 41 games for the Broncos over the past three seasons.
He played in 14 games last season, with seven starts, and posted 22 tackles and a half sack and 10 special teams tackles.
Johnson said the past few days have been stressful, but he's catching up as fast as he can so he'll be in a position to play. Johnson made the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2012 but was released by Denver as the team cut down to 53 players on Saturday.
"I came here to help contribute,'' Johnson said. "I don't want to just sit around and collect a paycheck or anything like that. Coming from Denver, I always had to work super hard, being undrafted, and I plan to bring that mentality here. I just want to work hard and help the team win."
