Could Rookie Duncan Fill Right Tackle Spot To Open The Season

Jaelyn Duncan has the physical size and skills but lacks experience and needs improvement on his technique, and he could find himself as the Titans starting right tackle in week one.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans had a plan in place, and their starting offensive line was written in pencil as to who would start and where to begin training camp. While that plan is still available through the preseason, it won't be available to them for the first six games when the regular season begins on  Sept. 10 in New Orleans. 

Thanks to the recent six-game suspension of right tackle Nicholas Petite-Frere, the Titans must pivot and find a replacement for their suspended starter. 

While there has been no indication as to who head coach Mike Vrabel, offensive line coach Tim Kelly, and offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling might tap to fill the hole left by this suspension, one of the potential candidates could be a rookie.   

Jaelyn Duncan has been the subject of a previous article on this site, 'Titans Rookie Offensive Lineman Preparing To Play A Key Role This Season,' where I wrote about the former Maryland Terrapin who has been working to learn the intricacies of playing tackle at this level.   

"It's going good. We're out here working and trying to get better day-by-day and continuing to do what I'm supposed to do and keep learning," said Duncan following a minicamp practice. "I've gotten into the playbook pretty good. Every night, I'm going to continue to do the same things. You can never know too much, so I'm continuing to get in the playbook, continuing to read and trying to learn every little detail."

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound mountain of a young man has the size and athletic profile to fill the spot left vacant by the suspension, but he has some work to do before that time. 

 "He's got great size, of course, and he's athletic for a man that size," said Kelly during the recent OTAs. "Like a lot of guys on this roster, he's got to keep working to learn what he needs to know and to continue to improve his technique and conditioning, but we really like where he is and what he's doing right now."

It wouldn't be unprecedented for the Titans to start a rookie at right tackle; after all, it was last season when Petite-Frere, the team's third-round selection, stepped into that spot for a season of on-the-job training.

Duncan wasn't a second-round pick like his predecessor, but this team drafted him because of his size and athletic profile, and he could get the call until Petite-Frere returns.  

Obviously, there are other options, including the addition of a free agent to fill the gap temporarily. Still, it shouldn't be a surprise if the rookie is on the field, starting when the Titans roll into the Big Easy for week one.    

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