Questions About The Titans Rebuilt Offensive Line Have Now Increased

NASHVILLE - Entering the 2023 NFL season, the question marks surrounding the Tennessee Titans offensive line were many. They were not likely to be answered before the group stepped onto the field for the first time as a unit.

Now, the group presumed to be in place as the starting five has a new question to be answered, and it's perhaps the toughest one yet.

In the wake of the suspension of Nicholas Petite-Frere on Thursday, head coach Mike Vrabel, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, and offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling must devise a plan to get this team through the first six games of the season without their starting right tackle.

There are multiple routes the Titans could take, including general manager Ran Carthon finding a right tackle on the free agent market, where George Fant has been a name repeated by both fans and media alike on social media since the suspension was handed down.

Vrabel and company could also choose to go with someone already on the roster.

Rookie Jaelyn Duncan is one option, as he worked as a backup tackle during the recent off-season program. He has the size and athletic ability but is raw and inexperienced at the professional level.

This sounds similar to how Petite-Frere became the starter last season.

Of course, there is the option of moving first-round pick Peter Skoronski to right tackle, but then that would create another hole to be filled.

Jamarco Jones, the sixth-year man from North Dakota State, could also be an option to fill in until Petite-Frere can return.

Others on the roster could be given a chance to enter the void, but none of them are awe-inspiring, and all would seem to have deficiencies in experience.

While the injury didn't occur this season, the rash of those that have impacted this franchise the past two seasons is again dealing with the fallout from one.

Dillon Radunz, who was injured last season and is still in recovery, would have been a viable option at either right tackle or left guard, allowing for Skoronski to move outside should Vrabel and his staff want to go that route.

However, with that not possible, the new million-dollar question is, who will fill that position for the first six games? Then, how will that impact the continuity that had begun to be built during the offseason program?

Welcome to the world of the Titans, where these issues seem commonplace.

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