My Two Cents: Titans WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Excited to Go Back to Indiana
NASHVILLE — Nick Westbrook-Ikhine turned up his eyes and smiled. The Tennessee Titans wide receiver had no idea that he passed 1,000 career receiving yards last Sunday in the Titans' 27-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's a milestone of sorts. It's not a huge deal for most, but for Westbrook-Ikhine, it's something of a badge of honor, because no one really ever expected it.
He was an undrafted free agent out of Indiana, and he dropped a lot of balls during training camp in 2020. It was no surprise to veteran observers that he didn't make the 53-man cut, and it was a big surprise when he was added to the practice squad.
What the Titans liked about him early on was his ability to play special teams and be a good run blocker for superstar Derrick Henry. Those skills do matter.
For Westbrook-Ikhine, it was all about geting a foot in the door. And a few weeks later in that 2020 season, he was promoted to the active roster and saw a lot of action in special teams.
But every year since, he's become more and more important in the passing game. He's got 12 catches already this season, including two huge touchdowns in the home wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Bengals.
"(Day 1), I wouldn't say I expected this. Obviously, I was hopeful coming in. You always have high aspirations and goals for yourself,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said. "I'm just happy with being able to be here, and being able to spend my whole career here so far. Being able to find a role, that was my first thing, just finding a role to help the team win, and whatever stats that includes along the way, I was just happy to take them.
Doing the little things opened the door, for sure, but it's been his hard work and dedication that's followed that's made him an important piece to this team in 2023, his fourth-year in the league. He's an excellent blocker, and made a big hit on Henry's 29-yard touchdown run on Sunday.
He enjoys mixing it up, and his coaches and teammates appreciate it.
"Yeah, I had to find a way on this team, and i think that was part of it (the run blocking),'' he said. "Just finding a way to do everything right, being a good blocker in the run game, because I knew we had a great running back and it was always going to be a big part of what we do. I was always just trying to be the best teammate I could be.''
Westbrook says he's learned a lot from veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who's been here the entire time Westbrook-Ikhine has been in Nashville.
"Ryan is an awesome quarterback, and a lot of things that have helped with my career is learning from him, growing with him, adapting to the receiver coaching points that he wants, and he likes,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said. "Just the way he approaches the game as a leader, and how he carries himself around the building, it's just automatic. He's the ultimate pro, both here but off the field too. That means a lot to all of us, and it's really meant a lot to me. I appreciate everything Ryan has done for me.''
The Titans are 2-2 and have their first AFC South game on Sunday when they take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts are also 2-2, as are fellow division combatants Jacksonville and Houston.
It's a golden opportunity to break the logjam. And for the Titans, who have looked great at home but abysmal on the road, this is the perfect weekend to become a better road team.
Carrying some momentum from the big 27-3 win on Sunday is a big factor.
"We need to bring some momentum with us (to Indianapolis) and start fast and let that momentum carry us throughout the game,'' he said. "Early (on the road), we struggled early and weren't able to find the groove and let that carry us throughout the game.
''We need to do that this Sunday for sure.''
The Titans have won five in a row in the series with the Colts, and have rushed for 765 in those five games — an average of 153 yards per game. It's what the Titans do best, at Westbrook-Ikhine knows that.
He's been a big part of that, too.
"I just do whatever they ask me, and that's how it's been ever since I was a rookie,'' he said. "I knew I was going to need to find a way on special teams and do whatever I could to help the team. I just try to nail down all the details they ask of me.
"I enjoy blocking and getting physical. I've always enjoyed that since high school and college. I'm in a big receiver and I like to play physical. I liked to run block in high school and college, too. Gritty is something that's been preached to me ever since college, and I just try to be a gritty player. I take a lot of pride in that.''
Westbrook played his high school ball in Florida, but had a nice college career at Indiana from 2015 to 2019. He was a three-year starter, and caught balls for 2,256 yards with 16 touchdowns. He knows his is a big division game, but it's also a homecoming of sorts, too. He'll have lot of friends and family at the game, and his wife Hannah is from Brownsburg, an Indianapolis suburb.
"It's an awesome opportunity, because it means a little more than the rest of them,'' he said. "It can build some momentum for the whole season in this matchup. We've got an opportunity to take a step forward and take the lead in the division. I'm. excited to get up there.
"I've got a lot of friends and family up there, and my wife is from Brownsburg, Ind. I drive right by their facility every time I go up there and visit her. I know exactly where they are at and I know all about it. I've got some converted Titans fans up there now, and some Colts fans who are a little divided now. I'm excited to be able to go up there and get a win and hold that against them this year.''
Westbrook's first touchdown dance this season was something he got from his wife. The second one on Sunday was a spur of the moment thing, inspired by Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo.
"That was Chig,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said of his moves after a 13-yard touchdown reception that included plowing over some Cincinnati defenders on his way into the end zone. "Chig did that one in practice. I just got up and saw him and did was he was going to do. She liked it, but I think she likes hers better.''
I covered Indiana football for several years, including Westbrook's final season in Bloomington in 2019. Our first game together, ironically, was in Lucas Oil Stadium. He had a 76-yard touchdown reception that day in a win over Ball State, and it was thrown by then redshirt-freshman Michael Penix Jr., who's now at Washington and is a Heisman Trophy candidate.
That seems so long ago, that early September day in 2019. I certainly didn't expect to be in Nashville then, and I was never really sure Westbrook would be an NFL player either
"Penix, he's been awesome and it's great to see him light it up,'' Westbrook-Ikhine said of his former college teammate. "I'm really happy for him, because he's been through a lot. He's got a good case to win the Heisman.''
And Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has a good case to continuing on to a productive NFL career.
Related Titans-Colts stories
- PHILLIPS TO RETURN: The Tennessee Titans are likely to see second-year receiver Kyle Philips return from injured reserve for Week 5's game against the Indianapolis Colts and despite the public's hesitation, the Titans seem ready to put him back at punt returner again. CLICK HERE
- GIBBENS FILM BREAKDOWN: Tennessee Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens has gone from undrafted free agent to starter in just two seasons and you can see why on tape. Gibbens showed it all against the Cincinnati Bengals. CLICK HERE
- HENRY DOMINATES COLTS: The Tennessee Titans have gotten plenty of fantastic performances from star running back Derrick Henry, especially against the Indianapolis Colts, but they will need another to get their first road win of the season. CLICK HERE
- RED ZONE CONCERNS: The Tennessee Titans will take on quarterback Anthony Richardson for the first time when they see the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The explosive rookie passer presents a difficult task near the goal line. CLICK HERE
