Titans offensive lineman Dillon Radunz appears to finally be settling in at right guard.
-- Photo By Maria Lysaker | ApThe Tennessee Titans’ offensive line might be starting to take shape, thanks to the rare potential of addition by subtraction.
The first unit, though not facing much of the San Francisco starting defense in the preseason opener, still acquitted itself pretty well, allowing quarterback Will Levis time to throw and opening up holes for the running game.
In fact, the right side, where both tackle and guard had been undecided entering camp, could be coming into focus. It certainly appeared as if free agent acquisition Saahdiq Charles had the inside track to start at right guard until he abruptly retired in the middle of camp last week.
But the so-called “open competition” there might not be as open as first believed – thanks to Dillon Radunz.
Radunz, a second-round 2021 pick from North Dakota State, has had a unique Titans career thus far. Entering the final year of his contract, he looks to finally be able to claim a full-time starting spot on the offensive line at right guard.
As a rookie, Radunz was deemed to be a project, playing in 12 games with just one start.
In 2022, Radunz was expected to be the Titans starting right tackle, entering a camp battle with then-rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere. Things went badly for Radunz in camp, and Petit-Frere won the job, relegating Radunz to a utility backup role.
Just when it appeared that Radunz might end up playing at left tackle that year in place of a struggling Dennis Daley, he suffered a torn ACL, ending his 2022 season a month early and jeopardizing the start of his 2023 campaign.
Radunz ended up being a swing player on a struggling Titans line last year, making starts at left guard while Peter Skoronski was injured and spending time at both left tackle and right tackle when others were either injured or ineffective. He made 11 starts last year, but really had no position to call his own.
Finding the right spot
When Brian Callahan brought his father Bill in to coach the offensive, his assessment of Radunz concluded that he was better suited to play guard instead of tackle. That meant battling again just to find a role. Now, with Charles’ sudden departure, Radunz might finally be a full-time starter at just one spot.
“Obviously, it’s an opportunity to start and that’s what I’ve been fighting for this whole camp,” Radunz says. “I’m just trying to take the opportunity and run with it and learn as much as I can and grow into that spot. I’m comfortable at right guard. I’m learning a lot from having a veteran coach like that. I’m comfortable solidifying a role at one spot instead of bouncing around. It’s been very helpful to me this camp.
“He was a good teammate,” Radunz says of Charles. “Obviously, he had to handle his own stuff. He’ll be missed. He was a good room guy, a good morale guy. But it’s the NFL and it’s next man up.”
Asked about his story and all that he has struggled through, Radunz says he thinks about it “all the time, but luckily, I have great people around me all the time and great faith. God has been good to me. I rely on my faith and rely on the people around me. I hope it turns into a good thing and becomes a good story.”
NPF no longer MIA
Meanwhile, Radunz’s right-side compatriot has his own interesting redemption story working this preseason.
Petit-Frere, who beat out Radunz to start as a rookie in 2022, had a nightmare season in 2023. His troubles began when he was suspended six games by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy.
When that suspension was reduced to four games, even that turned out to be bad news. An already struggling Titans offensive line was desperate for help, and NPF became an option at the revolving door that became left tackle.
But after three games and a couple of starts there, Petit-Frere had to shift to the right side again when Chris Hubbard was lost for the season. Petit-Frere soon followed as a shoulder injury ended his season after just three games played.
To make matters worse, Petit-Frere had to have knee surgery and missed the entire offseason. He began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Once he was added back to the active roster Aug. 2, he immediately moved to the front of the line in the right tackle derby. In the preseason opener, he seemed to solidify the coaching staff’s faith in him by turning in a respectable showing on the field.
“It’s been a long time coming for me to get out here and get a chance to play again, and for me to get a chance to show again what I can do and what I can become,” Petit-Frere says.