Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan met with local members of media on Tuesday to officially mark the start of 2024 training camp. Callahan began his presser with some timely updates. Offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere is beginning training camp on the active Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), and sophomore wide receiver Colton Dowell is also going on PUP.
Titans HC Brian Callahan says the team is coming into training camp healthy. Two designations:
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) July 23, 2024
WR Colton Dowell- Reserve/PUP
RT Nicholas Petit-Frere- Active/PUP
Clarification on what NPF is working through⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HNrkEUhkcr
Petit-Frere missed every practice throughout organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp, presumably with an injury. A misunderstanding has now been brought to light. Many assumed Petit-Frere was still recovering from last year's season-ending shoulder injury suffered in November, but Callahan actually clarified that it was an offseason clean-up surgery on his knee.
He's expected to be activated within the coming days, which is great news for his chances of winning the right tackle job.
Dowell was placed on injured reserve (IR) during the 2023 season after suffering a knee injury in a Week 17 blowout loss to the Houston Texans. It was later revealed that Dowell suffered a torn ACL injury. The rookie wideout and local product from UT Martin recorded one catch for three yards while also logging three total tackles via 139 special teams snaps.
If Dowell follows a seven-to-nine month timeline, he could be deemed healthy sometime between August and October. The No. 228 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft was already facing an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster in a improved wide receiver corps that now features Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and rookie sixth-rounder Jha'Quan Jackson in addition to mainstays like DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
In another surprising update, punter Ryan Stonehouse avoided PUP altogether.
No injury designation for @Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse to start training camp. He's felt good, Callahan said. "He's ready to roll."
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 23, 2024
Stonehouse suffered a devastating lower leg injury in last season's Week 13 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts. Stonehouse was severely injured on a blocked punt and was swiftly announced to be out for the remainder of the campaign. It was eventually revealed that he tore his ACL, MCL, and a broken bone, all in his non-kicking leg.
The initial expectation was that Stonehouse would begin camp on the PUP. It's truly incredible that he's avoiding the list altogether and is ready to return to action. The Titans also have punter Ty Zentner on the roster, who concluded the 2023 campaign in Stonehouse's place. With the Titans' premier punter healthy and available, Zentner's chances of making the opening-day roster just suffered a significant decrease.