One of the biggest unknowns at Tennessee Titans training camp is sophomore defensive end Femi Oladejo. The sophomore defender is entering a critical second season after injury wasted his rookie campaign. So far, Oladejo is giving Titans fans enough reason to buy into his bounce-back arc.
Oladejo missed OTAs and minicamp with an injury that was unrelated to the fractured leg that ended his rookie season last October. Once camp arrived, it was a promising sign that he avoided being placed on the PUP. Oladejo has been an active participant at the Titans' three training camp practices so far.
Head coach Robert Saleh and Oladejo recently spoke with the media at training camp. Coach Saleh expressed legitimate excitement about where the second-year defender is headed. Oladejo himself looked transformed at the podium, in fantastic shape and ready to attack the rest of camp.
Titans DE Femi Oladejo looks bigger and better at training camp
"He looks good coming off the bus," Saleh said with a grin about Oladejo's offseason transformation. "I will put myself out there and scream that Oladejo will play with elite effort. That is unquestioned. He's raw in the sense that he hasn't had a lot of opportunities to rush the passer and do the things we're asking him to do. I have a lot of confidence that at minimum, he's going to produce based off his effort, length, and athleticism. He's raw to the position, but he has the mindset and athletic traits we covet to attack from a developmental standpoint."
Saleh and position coach Aaron Whitecotton are attempting to develop Oladejo into an impactful pass rusher. That's what the franchise hoped it was getting when they drafted him with the 52nd selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Oladejo was raw coming out of UCLA due to undergoing a position change as a senior, and fell further behind when his rookie season ended after six games.
The Titans are deep at EDGE. They added three notable players to the position this offseason, all of which were approved by Saleh himself. They acquired Jermaine Johnson II via trade, and signed Jacob Martin in free agency. Both veterans previously played for Saleh. The Titans then drafted Keldric Faulk at No. 31 overall to fill a specific role in the defense.
All that to indicate Oladejo is legitimately competing for playing time. The early returns from practice insinuate Oladejo is capable of producing in Saleh's defense. The sophomore defender needs to continue stacking good reps while growing and thriving at training camp.
Add us as a preferred source on Google