NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans added a healthy cornerback and released one who had been on the physically unable to perform list to help get through training camp.
They also gave out a very important jersey number.
Rookie linebacker Rennie Curran hit the field Monday afternoon wearing No. 53, the number worn for 10 years by Keith Bulluck. But Bulluck signed with the New York Giants a week ago as an unrestricted free agent. With the other roster moves Monday, Curran woke up from a nap to find 53 hanging in his locker.
"Well it's the only 50s number we've got available, and we try to get the linebackers in the 50s," coach Jeff Fisher said.
Will Witherspoon has been wearing No. 4, and Fisher said they're going to have an issue getting him into a linebacker number. Witherspoon did get Bulluck's locker, relocating just before training camp. The Titans already had given the 93 worn by end Kyle Vanden Bosch to end Jason Babin earlier this year.
"Rennie was more than willing to do the best he could to carry on with the legacy because that number has been on our practice field and game field fairly consistently the last 10 years," Fisher said.
Curran had asked for No. 53 as an inversion of the No. 35 he wore in college at Georgia. But since that number had been worn by Bulluck, who started 127 straight games, Curran didn't think he would get that jersey.
"I kind of mentioned it to the equipment guy," Curran said of switching. "He said he was going to talk to Fish. I really didn't, to tell the truth, wasn't expecting to get it just hearing the kind of man he was and hearing the kind of legacy that he left when I got here. They didn't even tell me. I just looked up and saw 53 and was like, 'Wow.'"
The Titans were so thin Sunday that Vincent Fuller, who usually plays as the fifth defensive back in passing situations or at safety, lined up at outside cornerback.
Jamar Love had been on the PUP list. He was waived-injured Monday, and the Titans worked out four cornerbacks Monday before signing Pete Ittersagen to improve numbers at the position. Ittersagen also can return punts, and he immediately started working there as well.
Cornerback Tye Hill has been sidelined the first couple days by a tight hamstring.
"Typically we're at least six, maybe seven for training camp, and we got down to four healthy ones so we just need the legs for the reps. There's an attrition factor. When the numbers start to go, they really go. If at all possible, you want to avoid adjusting practice because of your numbers," Fisher said.
NOTES: The Titans wore shoulder pads Monday for the first time in camp. The first full-padded practice will be Wednesday night, a conveniently timed practice with temperatures forecast to hit 100 degrees that day. ... Rookie Alterraun Verner got his chance Monday to work opposite Cortland Finnegan with the first-team defense. Finnegan made a nice play near the goal line to pick off Vince Young in a seven-on-seven passing drill.
