Tennessee Titans minicamp Day 2: Taylor Lewan update, AJ Brown on Julio Jones

The Tennessee Titans on Wednesday had their last practice of mandatory minicamp ahead of training camp, which begins in late July. 

Taylor Lewan progressing in ACL rehab

Left tackle Taylor Lewan, who missed most of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee  in Week 5, said he’s now doing football movements, change-of-direction work and running. 

Asked if he’ll be ready for the start of training camp, Lewan said that will be up to coach Mike Vrabel and the training staff. But the three-time Pro Bowler said his ACL is doing “great” and he looks forward to rejoining his teammates in practices. 

“I think the stage in which I’m in right now isn’t so much rehab. It’s training now,” Lewan said. “It’s getting ready to get back on the field and go and play and be dominant at the position I play at, which is left tackle. 

“Watching the boys out there running around and playing ball, it definitely makes you miss it a whole bunch. I can’t wait for the season.”

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A.J. Brown’s Julio Jones recruiting campaign wasn't thought out

Titans observers who watched receiver A.J. Brown’s weeks-long recruiting pitch for now teammate Julio Jones – the TikTok video, the Instagram audio message, the makeshift Jones’ Titans jersey – may have thought there was a grand plan he was acting on. 

But for Brown, it was all just “fun and games.” If it actually helped bring Jones to Nashville, great.

“To be honest, it came about from me just being bored,” Brown explained. “Just having so much time on my hands. I was working out as much as I can, but me just being bored, being at home bored by myself, I just wanted to do something to bide time. That’s how it went about.”

Titans love Janoris Jenkins

Veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason, has made quite the early impression on the Titans. 

A day after Vrabel praised the energy the 32-year-old brings after one practice, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said he’s been a “pro” in his first action with the team. 

Jenkins was a standout in Tuesday’s practice with two impressive pass breakups in 7-on-7 drills. He’s expected to be a starting cornerback. 

“He hasn’t been here and he’s been prepared,” Bowen said of Jenkins. “Obviously, there are little things here and there. He’s still catching up. But you feel his presence. You feel his presence in the room along with Kevin (Byard). You feel his presence in the unit, talking to other positions. He’s a guy who’s been around, has had success at a high level and has been on good teams, good defenses.”

Titans want to expand Brown's game in 2021

Brown said new offensive coordinator Todd Downing approached him this offseason about expanding his route tree. 

Still recovering from offseason surgery on both knees, the Pro Bowl receiver is embracing the challenge for Year 3. 

“Of course, I’m going to embrace any new opportunity,” Brown said. “They’re putting a little bit more on me this year, which is fine. They can’t put more on me than I put on myself already. It’s all good. I’ll be ready. 

Shane Bowen has ‘sounding board’ in Jim Schwartz

The Titans’ addition of longtime NFL coach Jim Schwartz, who has 14 years of experience as a coordinator, was seen as a win for a defense that badly needed a new voice from outside of the organization.  

Bowen has found Schwartz’s presence around the team beneficial, calling him a “sounding board” for ideas. 

“He's done it a long time,” Bowen said of Schwartz, who has the title of senior defensive assistant. “He's had some success. So being able to bounce ideas off him. … Even hearing the offensive perspective from his point of view from being a (former) head coach. He's adding a lot of value and he's been extremely helpful to me to this point. So I'm extremely excited that he's here."

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.