Lewan shows up for camp on time
NASHVILLE — Taylor Lewan answered the biggest question for the Tennessee Titans heading into training camp by showing up for work with the rest of his teammates.
How long it takes for him to get a new contract remains to be seen.
General manager Jon Robinson said the team and the twotime Pro Bowl left tackle are making good progress, though the GM wasn’t ready to say when any negotiations might be wrapped up.
“It’s good to have him back,” Robinson said Wednesday after the Titans reported for camp. “I know that our coaches are excited to work with him and had really good discussions over the last 24 hours with his representation, and nothing’s finalized, but I would say we’re certainly headed in the right direction.”
Robinson said contract talks had been going on the past couple days and ramped up Tuesday night.
“I’d say we’ve made really good progress, and that’s about all I can really comment on that
for now,” Robinson said.
Lewan took part in the team’s voluntary offseason program with new coach Mike Vrabel but skipped the mandatory minicamp in June because of a lack of progress in contract talks.
The former University of Michigan standout, taken 11th overall in the 2014 draft, is due $9.34 million this season after the Titans picked up his fifthyear option. He has started 53 of 58 games in his NFL career, including every game the past two seasons, while protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota’s blind side.
Lewan, who turned 27 last weekend, is younger than Nate Solder, who became the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman when he signed a four-year, $62 million deal with the New York Giants in March.
Tennessee players who reported Wednesday joined the quarterbacks, rookies and injured players who started last weekend. Lewan was not among the handful of players made available to reporters.
The Titans are without right tackle Jack Conklin, who was placed on the physically unable to perform list last weekend. Conklin tore his left ACL in the Titans’ divisional playoff loss to New England, and Vrabel had no timetable for Conklin’s return.
Vrabel said Lewan is in great shape along with the rest of the offensive line. Titans center Ben Jones said it was good to have everybody in and ready to practice.
“We’re a band of brothers,” Jones said. “We want us all out there at all times, and that’s all we do is go out there and grind every day. Taylor’s the lead guy; he’s a guy we can put our hat on. You know he’s going to work hard every day.”
Vrabel said all of the Titans passed the running test, but veteran wide receiver Rishard Matthews still is being evaluated. Matthews was sidelined during the offseason program with an unspecified injury.
“When he’s ready,” Vrabel said, “he’ll be out there.”