George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Position Battle Spotlight: Urgent Need For Help at Right Tackle
NASHVILLE — During the Tennessee Titans' training camp, there will be several positions of interest where players will be competing for starting spots in 2023. Each day during camp and throughout the preseason, we will spotlight a different position and update you on what occurred during that particular day's on-field work.
We start on Wednesday with the right tackle position. Things are up for grabs presently because of the current six-game suspension for Nicholas Petit-Frere, who violated the NFL's gambling policy.
His absence has caused a vacancy that head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff must address quickly during their second-year starter's suspension.
The Candidates
Nicholas Petit-Frere
Suspended for the first six weeks of the season
Nicholas Petit-Frere, the former Ohio State standout who was a third-round pick of the Titans in 2022, worked his way into a starting role as a rookie. He worked as the starter during the recent OTAs, but now is out until October. He can practice in the preseason, but that will stop when the regular season starts.
"It sucks, like, when I first was drafted, the only goal I had was to help make this team better," Petit-Frere said following Wednesday's practice. "And with that comes being out here trying to work as hard as I can and being able to play with my teammates, so me not getting that opportunity, it hurts."
"I'm very apologetic to my team. I'm apologetic to all the coaches here, and I'm also like really apologetic to Titans Nation for not being able to get that opportunity to be with the boys and work as hard as I can."
Jamarco Jones
Jamarco Jones is entering his sixth NFL season, and he is returning from a severe elbow injury that sidelined him for most of the 2022 season.
Now healthy, Jones was mentioned by coach Mike Vrabel during his Tuesday press conference as one of three players currently on the roster who have a chance to win the spot at right tackle. Jones took the majority of first-team reps during Wednesday's practice and spoke about this opportunity following practice.
"I'm just trying to go there, compete and help this team however I can," Jones said. "I'm just glad to be back on the field."
As for his strengths and weaknesses, Jones described it like this.
"I mean, you know, everybody's got things to work on," said Jones. "I spent a lot of time working on different things this offseason, and I'm feeling pretty good heading into the season.
Jones said he feels he can impact the game as both a run and pass blocker.
"I think I can affect the game in many different ways," he said. "I'm just trying to enhance all my skills."
As for his head coach, Vrabel has known Jones for a long time. He's glad to have him in the mix.
"Well, he's jut an athlete. I watched him play basketball (when Vrabel was coaching at Ohio State and recruiting Jones) in high school, and got to know him and his mom and when he came to Ohio State, I went to Houston," Vrabel said. "And again, you make a lot of connections and relationships in life and in coaching and recruiting. So, that was another example of that, and I would say, in the free agent process there was some versatility.
"He played all across the front for Seattle (Seahawks) and then, like you alluded to, he had a setback, had an injury. He tried to come back, and it wasn't going to be possible, so now he's going to try to take advantage of the opportunity that he has."
John Ojukwu
An undrafted rookie free agent this season, former Boise State lineman John Ojukwu stepped into the second-team role on Wednesday and had a solid performance.
Coming out of Boise, Ojukwu had a draftable grade according to multiple scouting services, but the 6-foot-5, 309-pound tackle slid to the ranks of the undrafted, where the Titans signed him.
Vrabel had this to say about the guy he calls OJ.
"He was probably in the five years, now going on six, of going through that post-draft process and being excited. He knew how we played; he knew what our demeanor wanted to be," Vrabel said. "He's come in, he's learned, he's a smart player.
"He's got good legs, and so, he shows up, and by being out there every day, we tell them they can do three things. They can improve. They can take advantage of an opportunity if it's there and they can be evaluated. So, that's where he's at and he's getting started."
Andrew Rupcich
Andrew Rupcich out of tiny Culver-Stockton College signed as an undrafted free agent with the Titans before the 2022 season.
He spent last season as a practice squad member and took third-team reps on Wednesday. He will likely continue to have the opportunity to battle for an expanded role as camp continues.
Related stories on training camp
- HOPKINS TALKS SIGNING WITH TITANS: DeAndre Hopkins, the newest Tennessee Titans wide receiver, met with the Nashville media on Tuesday and shared the reasons that led him to choose Nashville as his new home, among other things. CLICK HERE
- HASKINS' LEGAL TROUBLES: Tennessee Titans running back Hassan Haskins has been charged with aggravated assault, complicating his future with the team, but on Tuesday, Mike Vrabel appeared to express patience as the legal matter unfolds. CLICK HERE
- NEXT UP AT RIGHT TACKLE: The Tennessee Titans must find a replacement for starting right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere due to a gambling suspension. Mike Vrabel named the internal options for the Titans at the first press conference of training camp. CLICK HERE
