Young Titans blockers must take advantage of OT absences at OTAs

On Tuesday, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan revealed that third-year offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere is rehabbing from a shoulder injury. It’s likely the same shoulder injury that ended his season in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sophomore tackle Jaelyn Duncan was seemingly not spotted on the field during Tuesday’s organized team activities (OTAs) practice by attending members of the media. It’s unclear if Duncan was also rehabbing an injury in the building (and away from the media), or simply chose to skip this phase of voluntary workouts.

The expectation is that Petit-Frere and Duncan will be entrenched in a battle throughout training camp to be the Titans’ starting right tackle. There are other players in the mix, but Petit-Frere and Duncan are positioned as favorites. With both of them seemingly missing key reps at OTAs, Tennessee’s other young blockers on the roster must take advantage of their absences by closing the gap.

With rookie blocker JC Latham at left tackle, it’s unclear who took first-string reps at right tackle. Members of the media are not permitted to release that information. Paul Kuharsky wrote this piece, which appears to indicate it wasn’t Dillon Radunz or Andrew Rupcich. The remaining options are second-year UDFA John Ojukwu, Leroy Watson, and Lachavious Simmons.

Ojukwu spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad. He was eventually promoted to the 53-man roster. The former Boise State standout earned 66 total offensive snaps. He struggled, allowing three pressures and a sack via just 13 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

Watson was acquired from the Cleveland Browns in a trade earlier this offseason. Watson worked with new Titans offensive line coach Bill Callahan in Cleveland last season. He started for Callahan in Week 18. Watson’s experience with Callahan could give him an advantage over Ojukwu and Simmons, although it’s unclear if he’s the player that started at right tackle on Tuesday.

The Titans first worked out Simmons in October of last season. General manager Ran Carthon swiftly signed Simmons to Tennessee’s practice squad in November. He was signed to a reserves/future contract in January, and remains on the Titans’ 90-man roster. It likely was not Simmons who practiced with the first-stringers.