The Tennessee Titans took the practice field Wednesday morning for phase three of their off-season program and the second week of OTA’s.
Here are some observations from practice.
Matt Cassel injury
The Titans were without their backup quarterback in today’s practice. Coach Mike Mularkey said the 13th year quarterback was injured in Tuesday’s practice on his throwing hand.
“Matt had an injury yesterday,” said Mularkey after practice. “He injured his throwing thumb. He will need to have a pin put in it. He probably will be out six weeks and should be ready to go for training camp.”
Quarterbacks Alex Tanney and Tyler Ferguson, an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky University, received most of the snaps during team drills, as Marcus Mariota is still limited while recovering from a fractured fibula. They will continue to get the majority of the snaps in team drills until Mariota is fully healthy.
“It just gives guys other opportunities,” said Mariota on Cassel’s injury. “It gives Tyler (Ferguson) an opportunity to show what he can do. It gives Alex a little more reps in practice. So all in all, it is what it is. It happens. It is unfortunate but Cassel is doing great job being around and helping us out.”
Mularkey said his team would not pick up an extra quarterback to take snaps while Cassel is recovering.
Henry has a good day, learns lesson from Mularkey
Only a few plays into team drills, running back Derrick Henry came bursting through the Titans offensive line into the open field for a long touchdown run. The second-year Heisman trophy winner showed off his speed on multiple occasions streaking down the sideline.
“I think he has looked great,” said Mularkey on Henry’s performance thus far. “It is evident he has been working extremely hard. I saw a lot of video of him working out at Alabama. I think he has looked really good for this time of the year.”
The 6’3’’, 247 pound back, finished up some classes at Alabama during the offseason and missed the first couple days of phase one of the offseason program. He had not told the coaching staff where he was, but Mularkey said he has resolved the issue.
“Yeah, I think so,” said Mularkey on if Henry has learned a lesson from not telling coaching staff. “I mean he is quiet guy anyway. He doesn’t say a whole lot of anything.”
Rookie tight end stands out
Rookie tight end Jonnu Smith made his mark on the practice field. Coach Mularkey, a former NFL tight end himself, said Smith had his “best day so far.” The tight end out of Florida International was noticed by his new quarterback as well.
“He ran a couple great routes. We gave him a couple choice and option routes where he did a good job of working leverage, and doing certain things and finding ways to get open,” said quarterback Marcus Mariota. “At that position you create a lot of different matchup problems, and if he can find ways to get open he will help us out.”
Smith made a few catches running across the middle of the field in traffic showing bursts of speed up the field after each catch.
“I just took coaching,” said Smith on his noticed improvement with route running. “Just coming in and watching film. Seeing some of these older guys and the way they run their routes to create separation. I have that ability in me, but sometimes it takes a little coaching and doing those things off the field by defining those characteristics in your routes to separate yourself.”
Mariota in “final step” of rehab
Marcus Mariota was once again held out of team drills, only participating in individual portions and taking most snaps in 7 on 7.
The third-year quarterback is still taking it slow after the first few weeks of OTA’s but is getting close to being ready.
“Just being able to do roll-outs and doing everything normal. Just be the same guy and same player that I was,” said Mariota on getting up to full-speed. “I think this is kind of the final step for me. I’m close.
“I feel like I am able to do a lot of things on the field, which kind of sucks because I feel like I can be out there and practice, but again I just got to stay the course. Stay focused on getting healthy and I will be ready once the season rolls around.”
Mariota said knowing that he will be full ready soon is giving him motivation to stay on course.
“If I had it my way I would be out on the field right now,” he said. “I just got to continue to be patient and continue to find ways that I can help the team off the field. Really, just focus on my mental side of it, do the little things that will help me be prepared once the season comes around.”
