The Titans are considering a change up front
The Tennessee Titans considered making a change at right tackle ahead of their Week 4 primetime game versus the Miami Dolphins. Regular starter Nicholas Petit-Frere has struggled mightily this season. Pro Football Focus has assigned Petit-Frere a pass-blocking grade of 45.4, as he's allowed one sack in every game this year (4).
Ultimately, it was Petit-Frere that started against the Dolphins despite him splitting first-team reps at practice with sophomore tackle Jaelyn Duncan. Duncan popped up on Saturday's injury report and was inactive in Miami. On Monday and Tuesday, the Titans made a pair of intriguing roster moves that alluded to changes.
Backup tackle John Ojukwu was released from his contract on Monday. It was Ojukwu that was active ahead of Duncan in Miami. The second-year offensive tackle once received first-team reps at right tackle during training camp, when both Petit-Frere and Duncan were sidelined with injury. The Titans plan to sign him back to the practice squad, but the demotion doesn't say much about his development.
On Wednesday, the Titans filled Ojukwu's roster spot by promoting fellow tackle Leroy Watson from the practice squad to the active roster. Considering the Titans waived Watson during final roster cuts approximately one month ago, opting to keep Ojukwu instead, it signals that head coach Brian Callahan is willing to get creative, and is searching for solutions to his ongoing right tackle problem.
And once again, Petit-Frere is tasked with fending off competition. Meeting with members of local media on Wednesday ahead of practice, Callahan claimed that Watson may split first-team reps with the incumbent starter all week long. It offers Watson an opportunity to play himself into a starting role.
The Titans initially acquired Watson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Watson played for Titans offensive line coach Bill Callahan in Cleveland last season. That familiarity indicated he may possess an upper hand heading into camp, but he swiftly dropped down the depth chart behind Duncan and Ojukwu.
Watson also nursed an injury for a large portion of training camp that hindered his chances to compete for a 53-man roster spot. Watson appeared in just one preseason game. PFF credited the former undrafted free agent from UTSA with allowing three pressures against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 of the exhibition, with a pass-blocking grade of 25.3. He was also whistled for one penalty.
Essentially, the Titans are willing to leave no stone unturned in search of competent right tackle play.
