Titans add DL to active roster, 2 players to practice squad

Las Vegas Raiders v Minnesota Vikings
Las Vegas Raiders v Minnesota Vikings / Ric Tapia/GettyImages
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The Tennessee Titans made a pair of transactions on Wednesday. They promoted defensive lineman James Lynch from the practice squad to the active roster, and signed outside linebacker Kyron Johnson to the practice squad. Earlier in the week, wide receiver Tay Martin was also added.

James Lynch

Lynch appeared in Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Chicago Bears. The Titans opted to make him a standard elevation from the practice squad to the game-day roster, choosing him ahead of Isaiah Iton and Abdullah Anderson, who joined the practice squad before he did. Lynch played seven defensive snaps and recorded one quarterback pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. The Titans were obviously pleased with his performance.

Kyron Johnson

The addition of Johnson is particularly interesting. Firstly, Johnson possesses notable ties to the Titans' coaching staff. As a sixth-round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft, he spent his rookie season with Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, who were with Philadelphia at the time. Wilson left Philly for Baltimore in 2023, but Rocker coached Johnson for a second season in 2023.

Johnson is undersized at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, but he's super athletic, having posted a 40-yard dash result of 4.40 and a vertical jump of 39.5 inches during the pre-draft testing process. He's also been a standout performer in recent preseasons. This past August, he accumulated six pressures and six quarterback hurries while trying to make the Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-man roster.

Johnson also played four preseason games for the Eagles in 2022 and 2023. As a rookie, he recorded three pressures and nine tackles while being coached by Wilson and Rocker. As a sophomore, with Rocker still on staff, he was limited to two pressures via one exhibition appearance.

The Titans didn't get any pass-rushing productivity from any EDGE defender not named Harold Landry in Week 1. General manager Ran Carthon could continue churning the bottom-half of his roster if that continues. If Johnson impresses, he'll pose a threat to Ali Gaye and Caleb Murphy.

Tay Martin

Martin spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers on their practice squad. He enjoyed a big-time final season at Oklahoma State, where he totaled 80 receptions for 1,046 yards, 13.1 yards per catch, and 10 touchdowns. Mason Kinsey and Bryce Oliver are other receivers on the practice squad. He's joining a crowded Titans receiver room.

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