Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan made his first comments to the media since returning from a four-game suspension.
Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan has made his first comments to the media since his return from a four-game suspension.
Lewan was suspended before the start of the season after he tested positive for the banned substance, Ostarine, and was finally able to re-join the team on Monday.
The Michigan product spoke about reflecting on his situation while he was away, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport.
"“I try to reflect as much as I possibly can. Anytime you’re put in a situation like this you have two choices: you can let it beat you up or you can grow from these types of things, and I believe that I’ve grown from it. I’ve prepared as much as I possibly could for the opportunity coming up Sunday.”"
On keeping his emotions in check for his first game of the season, per Paul Kuharsky.
"“Definitely keep my emotions in check and try to focus on just doing my job, and having as much effort and consistency as possible, and try to make sure that when they do lean on me for whatever they lean on me for, that I excel.”"
Lewan also spoke about the ups and downs he went through while suspended, and how weird it was to be off for the month of September, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
"“The first game sitting there watching was pretty cool, and then it wasn’t, and then it was cool again. It’s kind of like the ups and downs of how when they won I was excited, when they lost I wasn’t. It’s weird, I’ve never since I was little had September off, so that was something to get used to and hopefully that will never happen again.”"
Lewan also admitted that while he is in shape for his 2019 debut, he still has a little rust to shake off, and playing a football game is very different than doing sprints and other things to stay in shape.
.@TaylorLewan77 said he’s been training at @VandyFootball over the past few weeks. Thanked @CoachDerekMason and staff. pic.twitter.com/7rWRkgvWtw
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 2, 2019
Fellow tackle Dennis Kelly did a nice job in Lewan’s absence and certainly deserves credit for it. Still, he’s no Lewan and the Titans should be vastly improved upfront, and specifically on the left side, with the former Pro Bowler back in his spot.
We’ll find out just how much rust Lewan has when he takes the field for the first time on Sunday in Week 5 against what has been a stingy Buffalo Bills defense.