NASHVILLE – Nick Westbrook-Ikhine arrived in the NFL in 2020 just looking to survive.
Signed as an undrafted free agent, Westbrook-Ikhine made the team that year.
Then he made it again in 2021.
And in 2022.
And then, 2023.
Would you believe he's now the longest tenured Titan on offense?
"I guess I'm the most senior," Westbrook-Ikhine said with a smile.
Now, Westbrook-Ikhine is looking to prove himself once again, to a new staff, and with plenty of changes around him.
"It's totally different," he said. "It's a completely different staff, system. It's cool, that I'm used to the people around the building, but it's all new. It's nice to get a fresh start in that way, but also a new opportunity moving forward."
A roster underdog in his first season in the NFL, Westbrook-Ikhine played primarily on special teams in 2020.
Since, he's earned roster spots, and playing time. In fact, he's turned into a regular contributor over the years at receiver, and on special teams.
While playing in 61 games, with 30 starts, over the last four seasons Westbrook-Ikhine has caught 94 passes for 1,276 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's scored at least three touchdowns in each of his last three seasons, and in 2023 he caught 28 passes for 370 yards and three scores. Westbrook-Ikhine caught 38 passes for 476 yards and four TDs in 2021, and 25 passes for 397 yards and three TDs in 2022.
This offseason, the Titans signed veteran receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, and they're expected to bolster a receiving corps that returns 12-year veteran DeAndre Hopkins.
Westbrook-Ikhine will do his part to carve out a role for himself once again, most likely vying with returning receiver Treylon Burks and others for additional snaps, and opportunities.
Westbrook-Ikhine is up for the challenge again, with challenges.
"Trying to delete the old terminology in my brain," he said. "I feel like that is always something tough when you go from one offense to another. There's a lot of similarities around the league, but trying to delete certain things that maybe I spoke a certain concept this way, but we all have to speak the same language moving forward.
"I feel like everyone is learning together, but I feel I do have a nice step up just being in a system that's similar for some years now. I know the concepts, so I know the details from prior offenses. So, I feel like I can help the young guys in those little details. I've always kind of picked up offenses pretty well, and I'm trying to pick it up as quickly as I can so I can be a guy (others) can go to when they have questions."
In many ways, Westbrook-Ikhine does feel like he needs make a name for himself again under new head coach Brian Callahan, and offensive coordinator Nick Holz.
But that's no different from when he first arrived, back in 2020.
"You definitely have to prove yourself," he said. "Complacency kills, so you can't be complacent. The fact that I've been here, going into year five, doesn't really mean anything. It's a totally new staff, and a totally new year, a new room.
"So, you always have to prove yourself in this league."
