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Tennessee Titans: Biggest surprises from roster cut day

By Michael Moraitis

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Taywan Taylor #13 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield with the ball while defended by Myles Jack #44 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarterat Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Taywan Taylor #13 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield with the ball while defended by Myles Jack #44 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarterat Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 27: Nose tackle Austin Johnson #94 of the Tennessee Titans tackles running back DeAndre Washington #33 of the Oakland Raiders in the second half of their preseason football game at the Oakland Coliseum on August 27, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 27: Nose tackle Austin Johnson #94 of the Tennessee Titans tackles running back DeAndre Washington #33 of the Oakland Raiders in the second half of their preseason football game at the Oakland Coliseum on August 27, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Titans keep six defensive linemen

This was only a surprise because the Titans carried five defensive linemen into the 2018 season. It makes sense to carry six, though, as the team will keep its options open while trying to improve what can be considered the biggest — and perhaps only — weakness on defense.

Tennessee decided to roll with Jurrell Casey, Brent Urban, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, Matt Dickerson and Isaiah Mack. The original plan might have been to keep five, but Mack made that potential route impossible to pull off with stellar play in camp and the preseason.

The Titans had to keep Mack, and chances are they just weren’t willing to part ways with the other five players who figured to be locks to make the roster.

Head coach Mike Vrabel also hinted that 2019 first-round pick Jeffery Simmons could be named to the initial 53-man roster, however he ended up being placed on the NFI list to start the season. That means Simmons cannot practice with the team for the first six weeks of the season, and the team will have six weeks thereafter to determine if he’ll be added to the active roster.

Sure, we all had hope we’d see Simmons sooner rather than later after Vrabel’s comments, but this isn’t a surprise. The Titans will continue taking it as slowly as possible with their rookie defensive lineman. The good news is we should see Simmons in 2019.

That fact should light a fire under the rear ends of the six guys on the defensive line, or at least the five behind Casey. Simmons’ seemingly imminent return means one of the five behind Casey will have to stave off the big man from Mississippi State upon his return.

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