TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: SPECIAL TEAMS
In camp: P Brett Kern, K Ryan Succop, K/P Austin Barnard, Returner Adoree' Jackson, Returner Adam Humphries, Returner Dion Lewis, Returner Cameron Batson, Returner Taywan Taylor, Returner Amani Hooker, Returner Joseph Parker, Returner Kalif Raymond, Long snapper Beau Brinkley.
Offseason developments: The Titans signed Adam Humphries to give the team a boost on offense, but he's also returned punts and kicks in the NFL. A pair of undrafted free agents – Parker and Raymond – are expected to work in the return game in training camp along with the veterans returning from a year ago. There will be a competition in the return game in camp, as Adoree' Jackson and Darius Jennings look to regain their jobs from a year ago. Earlier this offseason the Titans signed punter Brett Kern, who played in his second straight Pro Bowl in February, to a new long-term deal. Kicker Ryan Succop didn't practice this offseason, and was placed on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list earlier this week.
In the spotlight: Jennings. Once again, Jennings will be battling for a roster spot, something he's definitely used to by now. Look at his list of transactions and you'll be astounded by how many times he's been cut. So it's safe to say Jennings takes nothing for granted. But as camp starts this year, Jennings will show up with some impressive credentials -- and confidence. In 2018, Jennings led the NFL and set a franchise record with a 31.7-yard kickoff return average, which includes a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown. Once again, Jennings will try and prove to coaches and the front office he's worth keeping as a receiver – and as the team's best option at kick returner.
Battle to watch: Punt returns. When the Titans drafted Jackson in 2017, the expectation was he'd be a dynamic returner for the team. But during his first two NFL seasons, Jackson hasn't made a huge impact as a returner. He averaged just 9.3 yards on 16 punt returns in 2018, with nine fair catches. Titans special teams coach Craig Aukerman mentioned Jackson, Humphries and Hooker when asked about possible punt returners for this fall, but several others will also be in the mix. It will be interesting to see who gets opportunities in preseason games, and whether someone can steal the job away from Jackson. I get the sense Humphries is a legitimate candidate here.
Keep an eye on: Brinkley. Kern has proven to be reliable – he holds the top seven net punting seasons in franchise history, and is coming off a year when he averaged 47.1 yards per punt with a 41.7-yard net. Succop made 26-of-30 field goals in 2018, and he's converted 83.6 percent of his field goals in his 10 NFL seasons. He'll begin training camp as a spectator, on PUP. So why not watch Brinkley, who handles the snaps on field goals and punts? Snappers usually don't get noticed until they sail a snap over a punter's head, or they're off on the snap to the holder. So it's a good thing Brinkley doesn't get his name called most of the time unless he's the first guy down the field to make a tackle. He's been a reliable pro.
Up next: Training camp.
TitansOnline.com looks back at punter Brett Kern's Pro Bowl season in 2018. (AP Photos)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern warms up during an organized team activity at the Titans' NFL football training facility Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) walks to a drill during an organized team activity at the Titans' NFL football training facility Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with teammates during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with teammates during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) runs across a field during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop celebrates after kicking a field goal against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Holder Brett Kern (6) watches at left. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) plays with his children after NFL football training camp Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern runs to a drill during NFL football training camp Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans holder Brett Kern (6) congratulates kicker Ryan Succop after a field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates a field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars with punter Brett Kern (6) and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans' Brett Kern, left, applauds teammate kicker Ryan Succop, center, after Succop made a go-ahead field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) kicks the ball away during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka, right, talks to Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 13-12. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern, center, makes a tackle on Philadelphia Eagles kick returner DeAndre Carter (16) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Tennessee Titans punters Brett Kern and Austin Barnard (3) run across a field during NFL football training camp Sunday, July 29, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) and Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka (4) in the first half during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with Philadelphia Eagles long snapper Rick Lovato (45) before an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch (4) before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern warms up in front of a Salute to Service military appreciation logo before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch (4) before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6), quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and linebacker Derrick Morgan, right, stand for the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans long snapper Beau Brinkley (48) and punter Brett Kern (6) warm up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern, left, and long snapper Beau Brinkley point to the sky after the singing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern kicks against the New England Patriots in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2018 in Nashville,TN. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) bumps fists with a soldier before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) celebrates with kicker Ryan Succop (4) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2018 in Nashville,TN. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) warms up with holder Brett Kern (6) and long snapper Beau Brinkley (48) before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern plays against the New York Jets in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 26-22.(AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) gets a punt away against the Washington Redskins in the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern plays against the New York Jets in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 26-22.(AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4), long snapper Luke Rhodes (46) and punter Rigoberto Sanchez (2) before an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 in Nashville, TN. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates with holder Brett Kern (6)after Succop kicked a 33-yard field goal against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) talks with Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) and punter Tress Way (5) after an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 25-16.(AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) greets Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez (2) before an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) greets Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez (2) before an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
