NASHVILLE – Taylor Lewan is on the comeback trail, and he's done some reflecting on his journey.
Lost for the 2020 season with a torn ACL last October against the Texans, Lewan had surgery and has been working his way back since.
While his teammates have been practicing this offseason in OTAs and this week's minicamp, Lewan has spent most of his days inside Saint Thomas Sports Park rehabbing, training, and building up strength in his knee.
On Wednesday, Lewan provided a positive update.
"My ACL is doing great," he said. "Obviously, it was tough being out during the season, especially missing that much time. It has been a lot of time for reflecting and growing. The knee is doing really well. I am doing change of direction now, doing some running. I've never missed practice in my like – like missed it, like personally. I've missed going to practice.
"But watching the boys out there running around and playing ball, it definitely makes you miss it a whole bunch. I can't wait for this season."
A first-round draft pick by the Titans in 2014, Lewan is headed into his eighth NFL season. He's been named a Pro Bowler three times.
During the course of his career, Lewan has played in 90 regular season games, with 85 starts. He's also played in five postseason contests.
Having his season cut short after five games last season hurt, he said.
"Throughout my career, (high school) college, NFL," Lewan said, "I've always appreciated football. It's been an outlet for me in so many different ways and I've always enjoyed playing football as hard as I can, effort and finishing, those are things I pride myself on. So, I've never taken football for granted.
"But when you've had a certain amount of success in the NFL and it gets taken away from you abruptly, it definitely has changed the way I've thought about it a little bit. I still want to play this game as long as I can – there's never a thought in my head like, 'How long should I do this?' In my mind, my knee, when it's healed, it's healed and we're back to normal. I just can't wait to be back out there with the boys."
Lewan didn't make any promises on a return date.
Right now, his goal is to get in the best condition he can while getting his mind and body right.
"I think it doesn't matter what my opinion is on (a return date)," Lewan said. "I think (Mike) Vrabel and (trainer) Todd (Toriscelli) are going to get a gameplan with me, and we're going to do the best thing for my body so that when Week One comes, I can have the best success I can to help this team win.
"I could sit here and predict a bunch of things, but you never know what is going to happen in the next 6-7 weeks. I expect it to go swimmingly, smooth, but you never know what is going to happen. So I am not going to sit here and say, 'Day 1 of training camp I'll be ready to go and we'll be hell's bells from then on.' I think what's important is I take every day one day at a time. … My goal is to be as dominant as I possibly can this upcoming season and however that looks, I know Vrabel will put me in the right position. He has done an amazing job with guys, whenever they are injured, of letting us figure it out and be comfortable and ready to play and it has showed when guys have come back from injury."
