Tennessee Talented veterans Calvin Ridley, pictured, and Tyler Boyd were brought in to make life easier for young QB Will Levis. They, along with returning veterans and rookie Jha’Quan Jackson, give the team a big upgrade at wide receiver.
-- Photo By George Walker Iv | ApThe Tennessee Titans spent a good part of the offseason upgrading their wide receiver corps to give quarterback Will Levis his best chance to succeed.
Joining holdover DeAndre Hopkins were free agents Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. When healthy, those three figure to be atop the depth chart and getting the lion’s share of the reps in Coach Brian Callahan’s offense, which often that will feature three wide receivers on the field at once.
Add in holdovers like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Treylon Burks, and now pencil in training camp and preseason sensation Jha’Quan Jackson, and suddenly the Titans have a talented, crowded receiver room.
There are several receivers in camp who in years past would be pushing hard for a roster spot, but now there might not be enough room to keep all those who have looked good at times in camp both at receiver and on special teams.
Chief among the logjam has been at the slot position, a spot that Boyd figures to man in bringing his expertise in Callahan’s system from Cincinnati.
That leaves Jackson as probably the team’s primary return man, given the solid work he has put in as a receiver and returning kicks.
So, depending upon how many receivers the Titans go with on the 53-man roster (seven would appear to be the maximum), 2022 fifth-round pick Kyle Philips, perennial camp and practice squad favorite Mason Kinsey and Kearis Jackson and another are all probably fighting for one spot at best.
A couple of these players could be reclaimed to the practice squad. Others will be sent on their way.
Even Callahan admits there will be some tough decisions, especially when it comes to so many guys who can play the slot in the three-wide set.
“We’re deep at that spot, at the slot receiver spot. I do think that Mason Kinsey has the ability to play other spots. He does have some flex,” Callahan says. “It’s not his primary position or his best position, but he can do the other ones. So can Kearis to some degree because he’s got some real speed.
“Those guys have some flex to play other spots. But yeah, we’re deep in that room at the slot position,” he continues. “Special teams is a part of it. That’s where those guys can separate a little bit. But, yeah, there’s going to be some – unfortunately, we’re going to probably cut some good players at those spots just because of the depth there.”