First Day in Pads Brings 'A Little Extra Juice' For Titans on Monday

The Tennessee Titans started their second week of training camp on Monday, and they did it with full pads on for the first time. There was plenty of hitting — and friendly trash-talking — as things got ramped up a notch.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans started their second week of training camp on Monday, and they did it with full pads on for the first time.

And the guys loved it. They practiced for nearly two hours under the hot summer sun, hitting each other for the first time. They got a lot done, with no tempers flaring either.

After four days of practice last week, it was nice to get a little more physical.

"Absolutely, it makes a difference with the pads on,'' Titans cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting said. "Guys are flying around with their pads on, hitting and thudding, being able to play real football. It was great. You bring a little extra juice out there.

"Everybody has an understanding of wanting to come out here and get better. That's why you don't see any fighting. We don't really have the time for tussling back and forth. It's more of a next play mentality, where everybody is just here to get better and get our work in. We all have the same goal. We're taking it day by day and stacking the days.''

There were several live 11-on-11 segments in practice, and both sides won their fare share. The offensive linemen, at a bit of a disadvantage last week in just shells, liked the idea of being padded up and hitting a bit more.

For  center Aaron Brewer, the lone holdover from the 2022 line, it was great getting the work in, especially against a Titans defensive front that's considered one of the best in the game.

"It's great because as you say, iron sharpens iron, because to go in there and compete with the best of the best, it's great,'' Brewer said. "Jeffery Simmons is one of the best in the league, and Arden Key is up there up there as well. We're getting the best out of each other, and it's amazing.

"It's very important (being in pads) because you've got to get that real feel and get that contact again.''

There's also more talking as things get more physical, especially with chatty defensive linemen like Simmons, who's one of the best trash-talkers in the game. Not only does he have a motor that never stops, but he has a mouth that never stops, too.

"I love to talk, and we're just pushing each other,'' Brewer said. "I like the trash-talking. Me and Jeff, we go at it all day. There's nothing wrong with it. Trash-talkers on offense? We don't have a lot, so it'll probably be me. 

The Titans do a good job of taking care of each other, too.  The goal is to get better every day, and to keep everyone healthy. They got through Monday with no issues.

Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks had the highlight of the day, going up to make a spectacular one-handed catch for a touchdown from quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

He also had a bad miscue for all to see, slipping and falling on a break where he would have been wide open for a catch. Instead, he ate dirt.

And he hated that. The touchdown was great, he said, but he also knew he'd have to live with the slip-up

"The ones where I made mistakes, didn't take care of my details, some of those details might come in during and game and cost us, so that bothers me more,'' Titans second-year wide receiver Treylon Burks said. "But it's all a part of it. I love being out there and getting better every day. I think we're getting a lot of good stuff done.''

Titans rookie Peter Skoronski learned all about getting extra work on the first day with pads. As a rookie, he had to carry four sets of shoulder pads and four helmets for his veteran teammates. It's part of the deal, being new to the NFL game

"That's all the rookies, Pete, Jaelyn (Duncan), OJ (Ojukwu). That's their job.'' 

Titans rookie offensive lineman Peter Skoronski had to take care of his veteran teammates on Monday, carrying their shoulder pads and helmets off the practice field. (AllTitans.com photo by Tom Brew)

Afterward, several players signed autographs for fans, including hundreds of kids who were in attendance. Star running back Derrick Henry, who is 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, spent several minutes talking to kids. Titans coach Mike Vrabel was how many 5-year-old kids it would take to tackle Henry, the most rugged runner in the game, in a small 10-yard box. 

Vrabel said 35, but Brewer completely disagreed. 

"I don't think it would take 35, I'm thinking 200 maybe (in a box),'' Brewer said. ''I would (have done it), as a 5-year-old but I would have gone after his ankles.''

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