Titans Coach Mike Vrabel Announces Jaelyn Duncan Will Start at Left Tackle in Week 12
The Tennessee Titans have had one of the worst left tackle situations in the NFL this season with a rotating trio of Andre Dillard, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dillon Radunz. All three have struggled at the spot and with injuries now adding in, we will see the sixth-round rookie out of Maryland, Jaelyn Duncan, get a shot to start.
Petit-Frere is on injured reserve and starting right tackle Chris Hubbard has been ruled out after suffering a biceps injury last week. Radunz, who played left tackle in Week 11, will now move to the right side.
That left Dillard, who returned to practice this week after suffering a concussion in Week 10, and Duncan as the two options battling it out for the starting left tackle spot. The expectation was Dillard would re-take the starting spot he started the season with.
That was not the case though as head coach Mike Vrabel announced at practice on Friday that Duncan would indeed get the nod as the starter. Duncan had not had an extended opportunity until Hubbard's injury last week combined with Dillard's absence allowed Duncan to play 25 snaps at right tackle.
Duncan did well with the opportunity, giving up zero pressures or sacks in pass protection and having some successful moments in run blocking. Duncan was far from perfect, but it is fair to consider his play as inspiring.
Duncan was considered a top-100 pick by most coming into the draft, but fell to day three of the process where the Titans scooped him up. Duncan has all the athletic tools needed to be a starting lineman, but needed development with his technique.
There were also some questions about Duncan's mentality. Some scouting reports questioned his motivation and finish while ESPN's Todd McShay openly questioned his love for the game on draft weekend.
Duncan has seemingly put some of those concerns to bed as one would imagine those concerns would not allow a player to last long under Mike Vrabel. The left tackle spot has been a disaster for more than just this season as well, so the Titans are hoping the optimism around Jaelyn Duncan continues after Sunday's performance.
The Tennessee Titans will once again have another starting left tackle as head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Friday that sixth-round rookie Jaelyn Duncan would get a chance to man the position in Week 12.
Titans Related Stories
- TITANS TRUST VRABEL: The Tennessee Titans' losing ways have brought the job status of head coach Mike Vrabel into the public conversation, but according to a recent report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Titans do believe in Vrabel as the coach to lead this team going forward. CLICK HERE
- WEEK 12 INJURY REPORT: The Titans are back on the practice field as they prepare for their contest with the Panthers. We got our first injury report on Wednesday and it included the return of quarterback Will Levis. CLICK HERE
- JAELYN DUNCAN FILM ROOM: The Tennessee Titans got to see their first extended look at rookie offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan in Week 11 and it was an impressive performance for a sixth-round rookie on tape. CLICK HERE
- BACK TO DILLARD AT LT: The Tennessee Titans suffered another injury on their offseason with right tackle Chris Hubbard expected to be out for the rest of the season and that forced the Titans to reshuffle the starting unit again. This time, with Andre Dillard sliding back in at left tackle. CLICK HERE
- CHRIS HUBBARD INJURY: The Tennessee Titans offensive line has been a major weakness all season, but it just got worse. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, starting right tackle Chris Hubbard will be out the rest of the season with a biceps injury. CLICK HERE
- VRABEL CALLS JAGS BETTER TEAM: The Tennessee Titans took an embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and it seems head coach Mike Vrabel decided to state the obvious on Monday, admitting the Jaguars are the better team with better coaching. CLICK HERE
