NASHVILLE – Harold Landry has been working.
While drifting into the background following his season-ending knee injury before the 2022 season even started, the Titans pass rusher had surgery and began attacking his rehab.
In more recent weeks and months, Landry has been gearing up for his return, under the supervision of trainers, and the team's strength and conditioning staff.
Landry didn't take part in the team's work in OTAs or minicamp this offseason, but he's made good use of his time, according to his coaches.
"He looks really good," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Landry during this month's OTAs. "He's engaged in the meetings, and it's good to go in there and see Denico (Autry) and Arden (Key) and Harold in there in the meetings, with (the coaches) and the young players that are in there. So it's a really good mix."
While Vrabel hasn't given an exact timetable on Landry's return, the hope is he'll be on the field in some capacity during training camp.
The Titans open the season on September 10 at the Saints, a full year after Landry's injury.
Landry should give the defense a big boost in 2023 after suffering the knee injury in practice on September 1, 2022, just a few months after signing a long-term contract extension.
A second-round pick of the Titans in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Landry made it to his first Pro Bowl in 2021 after racking up 12 sacks and 49 quarterback pressures.
The sack total ranked 10th in the NFL and led the team, and it finished off a four-year stretch in which Landry accumulated a team-high 31 sacks, the second-highest total by a Titans/Oilers player in his first four NFL seasons since 1982, when individual sacks became an official NFL statistic 1982 (37 by Jevon Kearse).
Titans outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow said Landry has been "great" getting himself ready for his return.
"He is obviously working on his body, and he's taking care of that," Crow said of Landry. "But he has also put his mind into it as well, and he's been involved in meetings. He stops by the office, and we watch film together. We communicate regularly. It's like he's there, except for when we go to practice, he's doing his deal to get back.
"In terms of being his coach, it's awesome to see him be happy with where he is headed physically, but also taking a step back and learning some other things and watching some film and getting creative. I know he's excited to get back and try things out. I am excited for his progress."
