Taylor Lewan Among Four Titans Cuts, Vance Joseph Heading Back to Denver, and Other NFL Bullets
The Tennessee Titans made four cuts on Wednesday afternoon, including wide receiver Robert Woods and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan.
- Lewan has spent his entire nine-season NFL career with the Titans. He recently told the team’s official website that he expected to be released and said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue playing or retire.
- The Titans selected Lewan with the 11th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was named to three Pro Bowls and has been a full-time starter since this second season with the franchise.
- Lewan was limited to just two games in 2022 due to a knee injury suffered against the Bills on September 19. Lewan hosts a Barstool Sports podcast, ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’ and has contemplated retirement. If the veteran tackle decides to retire, he’s already one foot in the door on his post-NFL career as a podcaster.
- Woods spent one season with the Titans and started 15 of the 17 games he played in Tennessee. Woods totaled 527 yards and two touchdowns on 53 catches for the Titans in 2022. Luis wondered on Wednesday if the Bears would take a look at the former second-round pick out of USC:
- The Titans also released kicker Randy Bullock and linebacker Zach Cunningham. Bullock was solid in two seasons with the Titans, hitting 43 of 51 field goals with a long of 51 yards. He was 70-of-73 on extra points. By releasing the kicker, Tennessee saved $2.7 million in cap space and is left with $600,000 in dead money.
- Cunningham was officially released after failing a physical. His primary ailment in 2022 was an elbow injury.
- Hey, look at that! The Denver Broncos are hiring Vance Joseph again. The former Broncos head coach will serve as Sean Payton’s DC in his second stint in Denver.
- The Broncos also interviewed Rex Ryan and Matt Patricia for the DC job in Denver but ultimately landed on Joseph. Sean Payton landing a veteran DC like Joseph to handle a very talented unit is a big win for Payton. But, conversely, Vance Joseph inheriting that unit in Denver could be the springboard he needs to land another head coaching job next year.
- The Chargers also had a pair of interviews with a candidate for their defensive coordinator vacancy. First, the Chargers interviewed Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington. They’ve also interviewed the University of Houston DC Doug Belk, per Ian Rapoport.
- The Chargers’ search for a new DC comes after former DC Joe Lombardi was fired following the Wild Card meltdown in Jacksonville.
- While new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon works to round out his coaching staff, he’s got another problem looming. Well, other than owner Michael Bidwill wanting to trade DeAndre Hopkins. Gannon has orders from the owner to figure out what to do under center in 2023, with Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy rehabbing from injuries.
- Kyler Murray suffered an ACL injury in December. Murray isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Veteran backup Colt McCoy is also dealing with an injury.
- Bidwill said that Murray’s return looks to be ahead of schedule, and that the midpoint of the season is possible:
“I think (his return) is going to be earlier than this midseason, so hopefully, it’s toward the beginning of the season, but I don’t want to put any specific dates,” Bidwill said. “There could be setbacks, the progress could slow. But he’s a young man, it looks like he is a fast healer, things are going well. Let’s hope that keeps going the way it is.”
- Still, the Cardinals will likely look to bring in a low-cost veteran in free agency. If Murray and McCoy aren’t ready for Week 1, they’ll need to turn to that option. In addition, trace McSorely and David Blough are set to be free agents. Blough is a restricted free agent, so they could bring him back and pair him with a free agent signing.
- We’ve completed the AFC and NFC North divisions in our offseason previews series. I put together a handy thread on Twitter this morning with all eight teams covered thus far:
- The Browns are hiring Bubba Ventrone as their new assistant head coach and special teams coordinator:
- So, I’m pumped to catch this new Netflix docuseries this summer!
- Patrick Kane is on a HEATER of late! I hope the Blackhawks don’t trade him before the deadline. I know it’s the “logical” thing to do. Still, selfishly, I don’t want to see 88 in another sweater. I want to see Kane break as many records as possible in a Hawks sweater. I want to see him here for the next great teams. But, most importantly, I want him to retire as a Blackhawk.
- However, Kyle Davidson has done such an excellent job of acquiring draft picks elsewhere they might be able to absorb not having that extra first-round pick they might have gotten for Kane.
- Maybe it’s just me … but this Patrick Beverly signing does absolutely nothing for me. I couldn’t care less, and I don’t think it will help drag the Bulls to a meaningless playoff berth.
