NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kendall Wright will be constrained in what he's allowed to do on the Titans' practice fields the next two days.
The rules of the collective bargaining agreement will prevent him from padded, contact portions of practice in Thursday evening's and Friday afternoon's sessions because they occur on his second and third day of camp.
The Titans' first-round pick of the 2012 NFL Draft said he felt like he could participate fully in Thursday evening's practice because he continued to condition while he and the team worked out a four-year contract that Wright signed Wednesday. He said he is "very glad" to have the business part of football out of the way and ready to focus on the game with Titans teammates.
"I think I could put the pads on this afternoon, but I'm not going to do anything to get me or the Titans in trouble, so I'm just waiting," Wright said. "Whatever they tell me I can do, I'll do it. I'll still be there learning what I need to learn, getting the most out of it."
Wright, who was drafted from the 20th overall spot, participated in voluntary organized team activity practices in May and June. He picked up the offense quickly, Titans coaches said, despite not using a playbook at Baylor.
Wright finished his college career with team records in receptions (302), yards (4,004) and touchdown catches (30). Those numbers included single-season records in receptions (108), yards (1,663), touchdown catches (14), 100-yard games (nine) and all-purpose yards (1,772) in 2011.
Wright went back to Waco, Texas, during the break to work out with former Bears teammate, Heisman Trophy winner and Redskins No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III. Wright said Griffin recruited several Redskins receivers to go to Waco and worked out with NFL veteran receivers Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss and Josh Morgan. Wright said the temperatures in Waco were 107-108 degrees Fahrenheit, so he did some work indoors and some outdoors.
Titans teammates said Wright showed significant potential during OTAs when he made difficult catches against tough coverage and created space between defenders to make other plays look easy. Wright hurt his shoulder during one of those practices while attempting a diving catch, but said he felt better two to three weeks after it happened and feels good.
"One thing you can say is he's very explosive," cornerback Jason McCourty said. "He can get down the field in a hurry, and when you have that type of speed and quickness, it's definitely going to be a huge option and huge asset to our offense."
Veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck agreed that Wright showed potential early and believes that will continue once Wright is allowed to put on pads during Saturday's closed practice at LP Field.
"It's still early," Hasselbeck said. "My experience has been some guys look really good before the pads come on, and then once the pads come on, they look different and vice-versa. This is an opportunity for the coaching staff to see if he's what they think he is, in terms of putting the pads on and doing that stuff, but every indication would be that he's going to play better, not worse, with shoulder pads on, with pants on, with contact, just based on the film and just a gut feel from being around the guy."
Thursday's practice is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Friday's is slated for 3 to 5 p.m. Both of those sessions are at Baptist Sports Park and free and open for the public to attend.
