Titans try to carry on
Vrabel’s sense that he had COVID turns out to be right
Titans coach Mike Vrabel anticipated further testing would confirm he has COVID -19.
He was right.
The Tennessee Titans practiced without their head coach Monday with Vrabel quarantined at home after testing positive Sunday morning.
Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman helped run practice, while defensive coordinator Shane Bowen filled in by talking to reporters after the session.
Bowen was the first coach to test positive last September during the NFL’S first COVID -19 outbreak during the season, before a vaccine was available. Vrabel disclosed this spring that he had been vaccinated.
“Get your rest and take your meds,” Bowen said. “Hopefully, we get him back sooner than I got back last year.”
The Titans’ outbreak eventually involved 14 players and nine other personnel. Only Vrabel and defensive lineman Anthony Rush, placed on the reserve/covid-19 list before Monday’s practice, have been affected so far.
Vrabel may not be able to return before Sept. 1 at the earliest. The Titans (2-0) wrap up the preseason Saturday night hosting Chicago (1-1) with the season opener Sept. 12 against Arizona.
Jets: New York took another big injury hit on defense. Linebacker Jarrad Davis will be sidelined through the first several weeks of the regular season after hurting his left ankle during the team’s preseason game in Green Bay on Saturday. Jets coach Robert Saleh said Monday that Davis’ injury will keep him out until around the team’s bye week in mid-october. New York will evaluate whether the linebacker will be placed on injured reserve with a chance to return. If he returns after the bye, he will have missed five games.
Giants: New York is heading into its final preseason game with the status of star running back Saquon Barkley uncertain. Coach Joe Judge had plans to meet with team doctors on Monday to discuss what the 24-year-old will be able to do during joint workouts with the New England Patriots this week. Barkley tore his ACL in the second game of last season.
Bills: Duke Williams’ three-year bid to restart his career in Buffalo is over after the Bills released the receiver by waiving him because of an injury. The Bills also placed offensive lineman Forest Lamp on injured reserve, and signed running back Kerrith Whyte and cornerback Tim Harris.
Patriots: Quarterback Cam Newton will miss at least three days of practice this week after traveling to a team-approved, out of town medical appointment over the weekend.
Falcons: Atlanta plans to sign a quarterback this week after losing backup AJ Mccarron to a season-ending knee injury. The Falcons began working out free-agent quarterbacks after Monday’s practice.
Colts: Carson Wentz got back to work with Indianapolis — and looked sharp. Three-time All-pro guard Quenton Nelson and center Ryan Kelly joined him at practice for the first time since late July. All three starters returned from injuries, finally giving the Colts a glimpse of what they might look like at full strength.
Browns: An injury knocked out kicker Cody Parkey. Parkey was placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury, and seeming to point to Chase Mclaughlin being the team’s kicker.