5 things to watch during Tennessee Titans' mandatory minicamp
The Tennessee Titans will be wrapping up their offseason program this week with a three-day mandatory minicamp at the team facility in Nashville. These sessions will be the culmination of all of the work the team has put in as they attempt to climb out of the NFL basement.
The Titans have made some significant changes during the offseason and are moving in a positive direction. This period will give the coaching staff and front office a final look at their roster heading into training camp, helping them decide if any further additions or changes are necessary.
With minicamp scheduled to start on Tuesday, here are five things to keep an eye on in the coming days.
Where is Jeffery Simmons?
Simmons did not take part during the initial stages of Phase 3 OTAs. While the star defensive tackle has posted workouts on social media, he was not seen at the facility for the voluntary sessions. While head coach Brian Callahan did not seem concerned about his absence, the media ran with it and called out the team leader. With this minicamp being mandatory, Simmons should be in the facility practicing with his teammates, but if he isn't, it could speak to a larger issue. Odds are, Simmons will be there, but it is still something worth monitoring.
Quarterback reps
There have been reports that Tennessee will ramp up the amount of first-team reps for first-overall selection Cam Ward moving forward, and this is the final set of practices before training camp. Callahan said at the beginning of Phase 3 that the number and order of reps doesn't mean anything in the big picture, but heading into this week, that approach should start to change.
The organization has been clear that Ward is battling Will Levis for the starting job, and it will be interesting to watch how they distribute the first-team reps between the two young signal callers during this final minicamp. If it is genuinely a quarterback competition, the reps should be equal, but if some of the reports are right, that will not be the case.
Cornerback battles
Quietly, Tennessee acquired a lot of cornerbacks during the offseason between the draft, undrafted rookie free agents and the waiver wire. After entering the 2024 season with only four on the roster, it appears they want to go in a different direction this season and will have some interesting battles ahead.
With L'Jarius Sneed still rehabbing, monitoring the reps to see how the team handles the position could be a strong indication of what to expect during training camp. With Sneed, Jarvis Brownlee, and Roger McCreary likely locks for the roster, there is a wide-open battle behind them.
Wide receivers
Much like at cornerback, the wide receiver room is crowded, and the Titans did a great job at retooling the unit by bringing in multiple receivers with different skill sets. The Titans need better production from the unit outside of Calvin Ridley and have a lot of new bodies competing to carve out a role.
Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett should be on solid footing, but they could face some challenges from a young crop of wideouts. Rookies Chimere Dike, Epic Ayomanor, and Xavier Restrepo flashed during the opening sessions of Phase 3. Monitoring how these young receivers progress and where they are positioned could give insight into how the room will look heading into training camp and whether fans can expect more production in 2025.
Injury Updates
Tennessee has a few players still working their way back from injury, and there should be some final updates prior to the start of training camp.
Looking at the veterans, wide receiver Treylon Burks was seen doing individual work, although he has not been cleared for team drills. Veterans L'Jarius Sneed and Lloyd Cushenberry did not participate in the OTAs as they were rehabbing. This week will likely continue the rehab process for these three, and head coach Brian Callahan will likely update their status at some point.
Rookies Kevin Winston and Kalel Mullings were both seen during OTAs but have been limited as they recover from injury. Winston likely won't be ready until training camp as he recovers from his ACL injury, but Mullings may be close to seeing some action. Any work these two can get will be a huge positive heading into camp.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tennessee Titans training camp: 9 takeaways from Day 2
The Tennessee Titans took to the practice field on Day 2 of their 2025 training camp on Thursday. It was a beautiful summer morning in Nashville, and the team was able to accomplish quite a bit under the bright Tennessee sun. Here are nine takeaways from the morning's action. New-look edge philosophy explained Head coach Brian Callahan met with the media before practice and hit on a few topics, including the arrival of recently signed edge Jihad Ward. Ward fits the big-bodied profile of what the Titans desire as they transform the unit. Callahan went on to say that the team will be relying on a more coordinated attack that focuses on collapsing the pocket and leaning more on strength to get to the QB and take him down. The Titans struggled to get the quarterback to the ground in 2024, and feel that this approach will help them turn pressure into sacks this season. Grading on a scale Callahan also discussed why the team grades every throw made by the quarterbacks during practice. 'That essentially makes you aware of where you are placing the ball, and location is such a critical part of successful quarterback play,' Callahan said. 'Making you aware of where your bad throws are, where your good throws are, and you get a chance to look at why. Why was that throw maybe off target?' This could be a very informative exercise for both the quarterbacks and receivers during film work, and it should be a benefit for Cam Ward moving forward. Kevin Winston makes an impact When the Titans selected Winston in the draft, they knew he was recovering from an ACL, and would have to work him in slowly. Now that he is cleared for football action, Winston is not only practicing, he is making plays. If Winston can stay healthy and continue to pick up the defense, he will earn playing time early in his career. Cam Ward turns the page One thing that has become noticeable is how Ward turns the page after mistakes. Known to be a hard worker, he goes beyond the basics by discussing specific plays with defenders after practice to interpret what they were seeing so he can correct deficiencies. Starting linebacker Cody Barton singled out Ward for his approach and how he is focused on learning and gaining every advantage as he develops in the NFL. This is something rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike pointed out as well when he spoke after practice. Ayomanor gaining traction When the Titans selected Elic Ayomanor in the fourth round, many believed it was a steal. After two days of practice, Ayomanor is proving that to be the case. The young receiver is off to a hot start during training camp and is definitely in the mix to see significant playing time early in the season. Callahan mentioned Ayomanor and Chimere Dike and how they have shown their versatility early on. It will be critical for the Titans offense for the two young receivers to continue to grow as camp progresses. Defense wins the day After practice, many of the players from the offense talked about being sloppy and their uneven performance during practice. But, as wide receiver Chimere Dike pointed out, the defense played well. It was a sentiment shared by multiple media members covering the team, as the defense set the tone for the day and made things uncomfortable for the quarterbacks from start to finish. Of course, these early practices are without pads, which does give the defense a bit of an advantage. But it's still a good sign for a team that struggled to get to the quarterback in 2024. Early on, Barton looked the part The Titans rebuilt their linebacking corps around free agent acquisition Cody Barton during the offseason, and the veteran linebacker is making that decision look like a great one, as not only does he show tremendous leadership, his athleticism is coming up big and making plays. Here he is picking off Ward. Front office staying busy After making a handful of moves and adding three players to the roster after the first training camp practice on Wednesday, Mike Borgonzi and his staff stayed busy on Thursday, scheduling a workout with UFL defensive back Keni-H Lovely With L'Jarius Sneed still on the PUP list and unable to practice, Lovely could come in and compete. Playing for the Michigan Panthers, Lovely recorded 26 tackles, a pick-six, and four pass break-ups on the season. This would be his third workout as he makes his way across the NFL. Health update The Titans have remained relatively healthy through the first two days of practice, which is a huge win for the franchise. While L'Jarius Sneed and Lloyd Cushenberry remain on the sidelines working their way back from injury, there were no new names added to the list. At this stage of training camp, an injury could be devastating to a young team. Early parts of training camp are known for soft tissue injuries, but so far, none of those ailments have occurred. That could all change on Saturday, when the Titans make an appearance at Nissan Stadium and put pads on for the first time in 2025. This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans training camp: 9 takeaways from Day 2
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans training camp: 9 takeaways from Day 2
#Titans Brian Callahan on grading throws by the quarterbacks, where it came from and why he does it: The Tennessee Titans took to the practice field on Day 2 of their 2025 training camp on Thursday. It was a beautiful summer morning in Nashville, and the team was able to accomplish quite a bit under the bright Tennessee sun. Here are nine takeaways from the morning's action. New-look edge philosophy explained Head coach Brian Callahan met with the media before practice and hit on a few topics, including the arrival of recently signed edge Jihad Ward. Ward fits the big-bodied profile of what the Titans desire as they transform the unit. Callahan went on to say that the team will be relying on a more coordinated attack that focuses on collapsing the pocket and leaning more on strength to get to the QB and take him down. The Titans struggled to get the quarterback to the ground in 2024, and feel that this approach will help them turn pressure into sacks this season. Grading on a scale Callahan also discussed why the team grades every throw made by the quarterbacks during practice. 'That essentially makes you aware of where you are placing the ball, and location is such a critical part of successful quarterback play,' Callahan said. 'Making you aware of where your bad throws are, where your good throws are, and you get a chance to look at why. Why was that throw maybe off target?' This could be a very informative exercise for both the quarterbacks and receivers during film work, and it should be a benefit for Cam Ward moving forward. Kevin Winston makes an impact When the Titans selected Winston in the draft, they knew he was recovering from an ACL, and would have to work him in slowly. Now that he is cleared for football action, Winston is not only practicing, he is making plays. If Winston can stay healthy and continue to pick up the defense, he will earn playing time early in his career. Cam Ward turns the page One thing that has become noticeable is how Ward turns the page after mistakes. Known to be a hard worker, he goes beyond the basics by discussing specific plays with defenders after practice to interpret what they were seeing so he can correct deficiencies. Starting linebacker Cody Barton singled out Ward for his approach and how he is focused on learning and gaining every advantage as he develops in the NFL. This is something rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike pointed out as well when he spoke after practice. #Titans rookie WR Chimere Dike on the offense having a rocky day, but adding Cam Ward knows how to flush the bad and move on: Ayomanor gaining traction When the Titans selected Elic Ayomanor in the fourth round, many believed it was a steal. After two days of practice, Ayomanor is proving that to be the case. The young receiver is off to a hot start during training camp and is definitely in the mix to see significant playing time early in the season. Callahan mentioned Ayomanor and Chimere Dike and how they have shown their versatility early on. It will be critical for the Titans offense for the two young receivers to continue to grow as camp progresses. Defense wins the day After practice, many of the players from the offense talked about being sloppy and their uneven performance during practice. But, as wide receiver Chimere Dike pointed out, the defense played well. It was a sentiment shared by multiple media members covering the team, as the defense set the tone for the day and made things uncomfortable for the quarterbacks from start to finish. Of course, these early practices are without pads, which does give the defense a bit of an advantage. But it's still a good sign for a team that struggled to get to the quarterback in 2024. Early on, Barton looked the part The Titans rebuilt their linebacking corps around free agent acquisition Cody Barton during the offseason, and the veteran linebacker is making that decision look like a great one, as not only does he show tremendous leadership, his athleticism is coming up big and making plays. Here he is picking off Ward. 1. No, throw interceptions now and learn from it2. Cody Barton is about to be a MASSIVE UPGRADE over Kenneth Murray#Titans #TitanUp Front office staying busy After making a handful of moves and adding three players to the roster after the first training camp practice on Wednesday, Mike Borgonzi and his staff stayed busy on Thursday, scheduling a workout with UFL defensive back Keni-H Lovely With L'Jarius Sneed still on the PUP list and unable to practice, Lovely could come in and compete. Playing for the Michigan Panthers, Lovely recorded 26 tackles, a pick-six, and four pass break-ups on the season. This would be his third workout as he makes his way across the NFL. Health update The Titans have remained relatively healthy through the first two days of practice, which is a huge win for the franchise. While L'Jarius Sneed and Lloyd Cushenberry remain on the sidelines working their way back from injury, there were no new names added to the list. At this stage of training camp, an injury could be devastating to a young team. Early parts of training camp are known for soft tissue injuries, but so far, none of those ailments have occurred. That could all change on Saturday, when the Titans make an appearance at Nissan Stadium and put pads on for the first time in 2025.
NBC Sports
10 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Aaron Rodgers's first pass of first team period was picked off
Ten years ago (yes, it's been ten years), breathless reports tracked then-Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, who went umpteen practices in a row without throwing an interception. At that time, then-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, essentially, that practice is the time to throw interceptions. In his first pass of his first team period of his first training camp with the Steelers, Rodgers threw an interception. Here's the video, via Mike DeFabo of Linebacker Patrick Queen made the interception. But, again, that's what practice is for. When the games count, Rodgers doesn't throw many interceptions. Only 1.4-percent of his regular-season passes have been picked off, an all-time record. Whether he needs to be willing to cut it loose and risk throwing more interceptions in 2025 is a different issue.
