My Two Cents: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine a Veteran Now, Doesn't Mind Leading Titans' Receiver Room

The Tennessee Titans want to play more up-tempo on offense this year, and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is all for it. He's entering his fourth season now, and is a leader in the locker room as they try to bounce back from last year's 7-10 season that ended in disaster with a seven-game losing streak.

NASHVILLE — The practice was over, and fourth-year Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was drenched in sweat. It was the first of the Titans' mandatory summer workouts on Tuesday, and after nearly two hours of grinding, the work was done.

Sort of.

Westbrook-Ikhine grabbed some water, then trotted back out to the middle of the Titans' practice field at their team complex. Waiting was veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill. second-year receiver Treylon Burks and other pass-catchers. There was still more to do, so they ran routes for another 10 minutes or so, still trying to get a grasp on Tim Kelly's new offense.

It was a good first day during the three-day minicamp.

"It's good to have everybody here. It's been pretty good (the progress), said Westbrook-Ikhine, an undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2020. "Personally, just getting used to different verbage, it's like learning a new language, kind of.

"You've got to unlearn some things and put the work in the playbook. I feel like most of the guys are doing the work to try to get it done. It's different, there are different words, different verbage. But at the end. of the day, it's still just football.''

Westbrook-Ikhine had 25 catches last year in a season where the Titans' receiving room went through major changes. After standout A.J. Brown was traded, there was nearly a complete overhaul. And now, even last year's top pass-catcher — veteran Robert Woods — is gone. 

Westbrook-Ikhine, who turned 26 in March, is something of an elder statesman in the receivers room now. He's a leader, a guy the younger receivers look to for answers.

He's used to that now, too.

"It's not different. I was kind of the old man last year, too,'' he said with a laugh. "I'm just trying to step up and be a resource for the young guys who are coming in and trying to learn a whole new offense. 

"The guys like Kyle (Phillips) and Trey (Burks), who just learned one and now have to switch over, I'm just trying to be the guy that people can rely on to answer those questions.''

Tim Kelly has taken over as the Titans' offensive coordinator, and things are different in 2023, by design. Tennessee wants to play faster, and the language of the offense is much simpler.

"The main thing right now is just like running crisp routes, being in the right places, having a knowledge of the offense and the scheme of what we're trying to do and having a knowledge of what defense are going to try to do and exploit them,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said.

"It's awesome. I love a dynamic offense. Everybody's getting touches, everybody's being versatile. I feel like that's what makes a good offense run.''

There's been a complete buy-in with the players, too. Tannehill and second-year quarterback Malik Willis have been around all offseason, learning the new offense and throwing a lot. A lot of the offense is being installed this week, but they've been learning it for months in the classroom, too. Now they're turning that knowledge into actual execution on the field.

"It's transferring pretty well. It's one thing I've really enjoyed, the learning process in the classroom and it really does transfer over to the field,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said. "Being able to take coaching points that we hear in there and apply it quicker — and sometimes right away — without having to make any mistakes. Just kind of figure it out once we step on the field because we already have a good grasp on it from the classroom.

"I love just playing football, just being here. I love the opportunity that we've got.''

Tannehill, who will be 35 in March, has been the Titans' starting quarterback for four years, is healthy after an ankle injury derailed his season a year ago, and contributed a great deal in the Titans' season-ending seven-game losing streak that led to a 7-10 record and a missed opportunity to make the playoffs.

They want to turn that around this year, and they're putting in the work to get that done.

"It's been awesome (having Tannehill here all offseason.) We've been getting good reps and building good chemistry with guys who last year weren't able to get that chemistry so much,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said. "I feel like it's been good to build that now, and build a good foundation.''

Willis is getting in good work, too, as is rookie Will Levis, who was drafted in the second round. Everyone is on the same page.

"Malik, leading the offense has been great,'' he said. "He's really understanding what to do, making the checks, commanding the offense and the operation. I feel like that lets him play a little more confidently, too.''

The national perspective with the Titans is that they are a team in trouble, and the respect for the receivers' room is pretty low. That remains to be seen, really. Burks, a former first-round pick, is understanding the NFL life much better now, and Westbrook-Ikhine knows the deal, too. 

There are others in the room, too, that can make plays. That's why it's going to be fun to see how this passing game progresses through the summer and then the preseason. They have to be ready by mid-September for the season opener at New Orleans.

How good can they be? It's the great unknown right now, and it's sure going to be fun to watch all summer.

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