Three Titans in the Spotlight as Offseason Workouts Begin

The Tennessee Titans kicked off their 2023 offseason program this week and for a few players the stakes are a lot higher. Let’s look at three players who will need a strong start to the offseason.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans kicked off the offseason workout schedule on Monday and with all the changes in the organization, this offseason will be more important than in recent years. New expectations in the building and potential changes to the offense and defense heighten the value of these offseason activities. For a few key players though, this offseason workout period is even more critical and will have a big impact on their future roles with the team.

Malik Willis

This one seems obvious. Willis came in with the expectations that he would need a year of seasoning before he was ready to think about contributing. However, injuries to Ryan Tannehill forced him onto the field. There were no real expectations for Willis though. With those caveats in place, it is fair to say Willis didn’t improve as much as you would like to see from the preseason to the end of the year. More than just issues related to his play, Willis seemed to be shaky on the operation aspects of the offense which led to Josh Dobbs taking the starting role from him despite only being with the team for a short time.

If Willis wants to keep his spot on the roster, he needs to prove he has made great strides from year to year. The game was going fast for Willis in year one and he needs it all to slow down. Getting a good start with the expectations of new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and mastering any changes he may make to the playbook will be key. Willis is fighting for his NFL career this season and the pressure will be on. If the Titans aren’t satisfied, we could see them find a new backup by season kickoff.

Kyle Philips

Philips started off his rookie season with a bang. He caught six passes for 66 yards and added a 46-yard punt return in week one against the Giants. He displayed all the characteristics Titans fans are hoping they see from him this upcoming season. The reality is though that Philips did nothing after that game due to multiple injuries. While it was a fun performance, some people are counting on Philips to be a difference maker in a very poor group of receivers.

That is a dangerous bit of optimism to have considering Philips is a small player who was a fifth-round draft pick. If Philips wants to pay off the fans’ faith in him, he needs to be dialed in throughout all phases of the offseason program so he can be available and at his best from day one until the end of the season.

Monty Rice

Rice is on the hot seat. No way around it. The Titans have brought in three linebackers in free agency and have been meeting with linebackers in the pre-draft process. Rice has flashed some good moments as a run stopper, but hasn’t come close to looking like a certified starter. If he intends to hold off the veterans that have been brought in to challenge him or the rookies that could after the draft, he needs to take the spot from the start of offseason workouts and compete like it is his to lose.

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