Titans cut deep at wide receiver
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans hope to have all of their starters on offense healthy for next Sunday’s season opener against the Oakland Raiders.
It will be the first time coach Mike Mularkey gets to see them together in a game this year.
Despite rookie Corey Davis not playing a single down in the preseason, the Titans trimmed their roster Saturday by keeping only five wide receivers, with a sixth, Tajae Sharpe, placed on injured reserve after injuring his right foot again. Quarterback Alex Tanney also was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot, leaving only the Titans with Marcus Mariota and backup Matt Cassel at that position.
“The roster’s not completely set yet,” Mularkey said. “We’re still in discussions on some things, but for the most part we’re moving forward.”
The Titans waived 33 other players, including wide receiver Eric Weems, signed to a two-year, $2.6 million deal in March to help boost special teams. Others cut included tight ends Jace Amaro and Jerome Cunningham, linebacker Justin Staples and nose tackle Antwaun Woods.
Fullback Joe Bacci, long snapper Ryan DiSalvo, running back Akeem Judd and defensive end Jimmy Staten all were waived as injured.
“That’s the nature of the business,” Mularkey said. “You can rely it’s going to be the same when you start. It is different. We’ve got some injuries there. I think we’re … still looking at the roster at a number of positions, that being one of them. We still feel very confident with where we are right now with that position.”
The fifth pick overall out of Western Michigan, Davis was the first wide receiver selected in this year’s draft. The Titans had so bolstered their wide receivers that keeping six or seven seemed possible. Mularkey said he’s interested in bringing back Weems, a move likely after the opener, when the veteran’s salary wouldn’t be guaranteed for the full season.
Davis returned to practice in a limited fashion Tuesday after hurting a hamstring Aug. 3, and Mularkey hopes the rookie will be practicing full speed by the end of the week. Eric Decker, who hurt an ankle Aug. 17, also returned to practice with Davis. Mularkey said he expects both to be available for the opener.
Falcons make moves
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List on Saturday as the result of 2016 domestic violence-related charges.
The designation was part of the team’s moves to reach the 53-man roster limit.
The NFL announced the move with Hageman was in response to charges filed by DeKalb County prosecutors after a March 2016 incident. The league said in a statement its investigation remains pending.
A player on the list may not practice or attend games.
Hageman, a second-round pick in 2014, started four games in 2016 and 12 games in 2015. He was listed as starter Grady Jarrett’s top backup for the team’s final preseason game, a 13-7 loss to Jacksonville on Thursday night.
According to the DeKalb County police report from the incident on March 21, 2016, at the home of Hageman’s girlfriend, Janeal Jefferies, Hageman faced charges of battery, cruelty to children and interfering with calls for emergency assistance.
The Falcons also reached an injury settlement with tight end Darion Griswold, placed safety Quincy Mauger on injured reserve, and placed cornerback Jalen Collins on the reserve/suspended list.
Three players were waived injured: quarterback Matt Simms, linebacker Josh Keyes and defensive end Martin Ifedi.