09-05-2021 Ravens Preview - Flipbook - Page 17
NFL2021
TENNESSEE
TITANS
COACH
MikeVrabel (4th season with team,31-21)
LAST SEASON
11-5 (1st in AFC South; lost in wild card round)
Record since 2011: 74-86 (3-3 in playoffs)
17
2020 TEAM STATISTICAL LEAGUE RANKINGS
2020 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
SCORING OFFENSE
4th of 32 (30.7 ppg)
RUSHING
Derrick Henry: 378 carries, 2,027 yards, 17 TDs, 126.7 ypg
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SCORING DEFENSE
24th of 32 (27.4 ppg)
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RUSHING OFFENSE
2nd of 32 (168.1 ypg)
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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PASSING OFFENSE
23rd of 32 (228.3 ypg)
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
PASSING
Ryan Tannehill: 315-481, 3,819 yards, 33 TDs, 7 ints, 255.3 ypg
SCORING
Derrick Henry, RB: 104 points (17 TDs, 1 PAT2, 6.5 ppg)
Stats from pro-football-reference.com
A journeyman’s journey
Wide receiver proving a good fit with Titans
By Teresa M. Walker
Associated Press
M
Titans running back Derrick Henry gets past Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III during a
game Oct. 18, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. WADE PAYNE/AP
arcus Johnson never doubted how
much the Tennessee Titans liked
him. Not even when they traded
for seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio
Jones.
TheTitanshadreachedouttoomanytimes
before signing him to the practice squad in
January and then to a contract March 9. The
June trade for Jones did not shake Johnson’s
confidenceafterwhathesawasgenuineinterestinhisskillsandopportunityfromtheteam.
“Iknowwhatadversitylookslike,”Johnson
said. “I know this league. I know myself and
what I can bring. So ... it just brings the best
out of me.”
Johnson’sfourthNFLteammightjustwind
up being the right fit. The Titans are looking
for wide receivers to play with Jones and Pro
Bowler A.J. Brown, and Johnson, who just
turned 27, keeps making catches and working
his way up the depth chart.
He currently backs up Jones on the preseason depth chart and started the preseason
opening win in Atlanta with both Jones and
Brown watching along with all the Titans’
other starters on offense.
“I’ve been in similar situations,” Johnson
said. “My second year in Philadelphia, we
brought in Alshon (Jeffery), Tory Smith and
thenwedraftedtwoguysandI’manundrafted
second year player coming from the practice
squad. And by the grace of God (I) made t he
roster that year.
Johnson has taken advantage of his experience and the extra reps with Jones not practicing over the past couple weeks to make an
impression.
CoachMikeVrabelsaidJohnsonhasearned
what he’s gotten in training camp.
“He has been one, durable because he has
been out there every day, been available,”
Vrabel said. “He has gotten better, whatever
mistakes he makes he quickly corrects and
usuallyrarelymakesthesecondmistaketwice.
Iwouldsaythatisagoodmodelthatweshould
all look at for training camp.”
The Titans have plenty of competition at
wide receiver. They signed Josh Reynolds
as a free agent after four years with the Los
Angeles Rams, then drafted Dez Fitzpatrick
in the fourth round and Racey McMath in
the seventh round. They also have Cameron
Batson and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine who’ve
been with the Titans.
A native of Clear Springs, Texas, the 6-foot1, 207-pound Johnson went undrafted out of
Texas. He signed as a rookie free agent with
PhiladelphiainMay2016onlytospentpartsof
that season on the practice squad. In 2017, the
Eagles signed both Alshon Jeffery and Torrey
Smith.
Johnson made the roster that season,
winning a Super Bowl ring after playing in 10
games.
The Eagles traded him in March 2018 to
Seattle,thentheSeahawkstradedhimtoIndianapolis that September.
2021 SCHEDULE WEEK 13 BYE
WEEK 1
Sept. 12
WEEK 2
Sept. 19
WEEK 3
Sept. 26
WEEK 4
Oct. 3
WEEK 5
Oct. 10
WEEK 6
Oct. 18
WEEK 7
Oct. 24
WEEK 8
Oct. 31
WEEK 9
Nov. 7
WEEK 10
Nov. 14
WEEK 11
Nov. 21
WEEK 12
Nov. 28
WEEK 14
Dec. 12
WEEK 15
Dec. 20
WEEK 16
Dec. 23
WEEK 17
Jan. 2
WEEK 18
Jan. 9
ARI
1 p.m.
CBS
@SEA
4:25 p.m.
CBS
IND
1 p.m.
CBS
@NYJ
1 p.m.
CBS
@JAX
1 p.m.
CBS
BUF
8:15 p.m.
ESPN
KC
1 p.m.
CBS
@IND
1 p.m.
CBS
@LAR
8:20 p.m.
NBC
NO
1 p.m.
CBS
HOU
1 p.m.
CBS
@NE
1 p.m.
CBS
@JAX
1 p.m.
CBS
@PIT
1 p.m.
CBS
SF
8:20 p.m.
NFL
MIA
1 p.m.
CBS
@HOU
1 p.m.
CBS
Note: This section was printed before final roster cuts, so personnel are subject to change; all times are Eastern and subject to change