NASHVILLE – Julius Chestnut strolled out to midfield as one of the team's captains on Saturday night in Minnesota.
It wasn't by chance.
"We made him a captain for a reason," Titans Coach Mike Vrabel said of Chestnut. "He embodies what we believe in."
Chestnut then proceeded to run for 98 yards in the team's preseason win over the Vikings, a game when he scored two touchdowns and averaged 7.5 yards per carry.
Through two preseason games, Chestnut's 144 rushing yards (on 20 carries) rank second in the NFL, and his 7.2 yards per carry average ranks among the league's best as well.
There's a reason for that, too.
"He's a worker, probably one of the best finishers on our football team," Vrabel said. "You guys watch practice … You see No. 36 hauling ass down the field when he doesn't have the ball, that's how he plays without the football."
With the football in his hands on Saturday night, Chestnut busted loose for a 55-yard gain, which set up a field goal. Later, Chestnut scored on a five-yard touchdown run, and then on a one-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Malik Willis.
With a big smile, Chestnut said he enjoyed his opportunities, which came after running back Tyjae Spears electrified the sideline early with a 33-yard touchdown run that included a hurdle.
"Watching Tyjae running, hurdling a guy, and scoring, that was obviously a beautiful sight," Chestnut said with a smile. "We kept rolling after that, everybody. Everybody was getting into it."
Chestnut, who made the team a year ago as an undrafted free agent out of Sacred Heart University, is making another strong case for himself to stick again this season.
The 5-11, 228-pounder said he feels even more confident in Year 2, but he'll never stop working. In addition to his 32 snaps on offense, Chestnut also played 10 more on special teams against the Vikings.
Behind running backs Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears, the Titans are looking for more quality options, and Chestnut is once again making a strong case for himself.
"I wouldn't say I am more comfortable," Chestnut said of his second NFL season. "I just adjusted a little better. I am still learning this NFL thing, and just trying to take it day by day and learn from my peers, learn from the people in my room and just try to get better."
