NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With Rodger Saffold out and Ben Jones hurting, the Titans intend to have first-round pick Isaiah Wilson in uniform for the first time in his rookie year on Sunday in Baltimore.
Wilson’s troubled season has been a big storyline for the 6-3 Titans.
He went on Covid-Reserve on July 28 and came off it on Aug. 3.
Photo: George Walker, The Tennessean via pool.
He was cited for trespassing at TSU on Aug. 15 where a campus police report said contemplated jumping off a second-story balcony to avoid trouble. The school was closed to outsiders because of COVID-19 concerns. [Unlocked]
On Sept. 11 he crashed his vehicle while doing donuts on Charlotte Ave and was charged with DUI.
Then he went on the Covid-Reserve list a second time on Sept. 6 and didn’t come off it until Oct. 10.
Mike Vrabel was asked about Wilson on Wednesday.
“Continuing to work, continuing to develop,” he said before indicating he hasn’t practiced as much lately as it might seem. “Some of those practices, those days are kind of misleading because of the turnaround time that we had (for the Thursday night game against the Colts), or jog-through practice.”
Vrabel said Wednesday was a critical day for a lot of players including Wilson.
But suiting him up now is as much a result of numbers on the offensive line as it is about Wilson’s progress. The Titans must have at least eight linemen active.
They will start Ty Sambrailo at left tackle, Jamil Douglas at left guard, Ben Jones at center if he can go with his knee injury, Nate Davis at right guard and Dennis Kelly at right tackle.
Jones didn’t practice this week and is questionable and Kelly was limited. But Kelly got no injury designation and has been playing without full practice weeks.
Rookie Aaron Brewer is the backup center. He’s played in five games this season and played some guard at Texas State. David Quessenberry had been up as the third tackle since Taylor Lewan tore his ACL Oct. 18 against Houston.
Unless one of three practice-squad linemen hopscotched Wilson in a new low for him, he is the only remaining offensive lineman to fill the eighth spot on the 48-man roster.
Wilson’s initial action should come on special teams, which have been a problem area for the Titans. Backup linemen typically get snaps there though the Titans could choose not to use him in that way.
It would probably take more than one injury for Wilson to play on offense, unless the game is a blowout and he gets in the lineup late.
If the Titans want nine linemen, they could also elevate center Daniel Munyer from the practice squad. He has started an NFL game at right guard. Tennessee also has tackles Paul Adams and Brandon Kemp on the practice squad.
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