Mike Vrabel, Titans Working on Contract Extension, GM Jon Robinson Says
Feb 3, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 22: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans reacts to a play in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Nissan Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson said during a radio appearance Wednesday that the team has begun contract extension talks with head coach Mike Vrabel.
"We're working through some things on that, you know ... and that's called business," he told The Buck Reising Show on 104.5 The Zone (h/t Mike Moraitis of Titans Wire). "You know, I have the utmost confidence in Mike and all the coaches being in there. We love Mike being there. No doubt that, you know, we'll get all that figured out."
Vrabel, 46, has gone 41-24 in his four years as the Titans' head coach, leading the team to the postseason three straight times. He was named the Pro Football Writers of America Coach of the Year this past season after leading the Titans to a 12-5 record and the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs, though the team lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round.
After reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2019, however, the Titans have gone 0-2 in the postseason since.
Vrabel: We've won 34 games in three years, but we haven't won a playoff game in two years, and that's when you have to be at your best.
Vrabel clarified his comment further. Said not very close because Super Bowl is coming up and the @Titans are out of race. But said he likes the players and the mindset in place ... Have to keep getting better https://t.co/KaIcyIDMEJ
Still, it's hard to describe the 2021 season as anything less than a success for the Titans, given the injuries they battled through. Superstar running back Derrick Henry missed nine games. Top wideout A.J. Brown missed four.
NFL end of regular season, Top 5, most games missed by injured players.
In total, the team put 54 players on injured reserve and fielded 91 players on the season, an NFL record.
It was a good year, considering that adversity. It's no surprise that the Titans would want Vrabel to stick around. And the feeling is mutual.
"I'm under contract. My belief is I'll be here (for a while)," Vrabel told reporters on Jan. 24. "That's just how I feel. I don't want to be anywhere else.
Joe Burrow, Bengals Stun Titans with Late INT, Walk-Off FG to Reach AFC Title Game
Jan 23, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) pases from the pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
After winning their first playoff game in 31 years last week, the Cincinnati Bengals are on to the AFC Championship Game after a thrilling 19-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Saturday.
Evan McPherson kicked the Bengals to victory with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. He was given a chance to win it after Logan Wilson picked off Ryan Tannehill with 20 seconds remaining.
Joe Burrow hit Ja'Marr Chase for a 19-yard gain to get the Bengals into field-goal territory at Tennessee's 34-yard line.
Not counting Week 18 when several starters rested for the playoffs, the Bengals have won five consecutive games with all of their key players available. This streak encompasses victories over the top two seeds in the AFC: the Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.
The Titans entered this matchup as healthy as they had been since early in the season. Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown and Julio Jones were all in the lineup together for the first time since Week 7 against the Chiefs.
Brown was the only one who came up big against the Bengals. He finished with 142 yards and one touchdown on five receptions.
Cincinnati's offense was moving the ball at will against the Titans defense in the first half. Burrow had 236 yards through two quarters, but the Bengals leaky offensive line gave up five sacks to prevent them from getting in the end zone.
Tannehill looked shaky out of the gate with an interception on his first pass of the game. He had just 92 yards in the first half, with 41 coming on a deep throw to Brown.
The Titans quarterback had three interceptions total in the game. He only had two interceptions over the final six weeks of the regular season.
Coming out of last week's win over the Raiders, the Bengals' game plan was praised for slowing down Maxx Crosby. Three of their five starters in that game didn't allow a single pressure, per Diante Lee of Pro Football Focus.
The Titans were expected to present a more difficult challenge because they have a more diverse set of pass-rushers and use a variety of stunts and twists to get into the backfield.
For most of the first half, it looked like Cincinnati's offense was going to be stymied because of the offensive line.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow has taken 5 sacks, his most in any half of his career, per @ESPNStatsInfo
Joe Burrow is the first quarterback to be sacked five times in the first half of an NFL playoff game since Rob Johnson in the 1999 AFC Wild Card Round.
The Bengals only got into Tennessee's red zone once in the first half, despite Burrow throwing for 236 yards. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson did nail three field goals to take a 9-6 lead into the break.
One reason the Bengals were able to find success is because of big plays on both sides of the ball. Jessie Bates III got things started with a fantastic read on Tannehill's first pass attempt of the game to Julio Jones.
The Bengals came out of the second half looking like they were ready to take control of the game. They drove 65 yards on nine plays, though Burrow was sacked for a sixth time. Joe Mixon capped it off with a 16-yard touchdown run to put Cincinnati up 16-6.
Mike Hilton then made a fantastic play on the Titans' first possession of the second half to intercept Tannehill after they drove down to Cincinnati's 9-yard line in under three minutes.
Things started to fall apart for Cincinnati in crunch time, particularly on offense. Burrow took a 16-yard sack on 3rd-and-3 that knocked the Bengals out of field-goal range early in the fourth quarter.
Burrow has to do a better job avoiding those negative plays in field goal range
After the Bengals got the ball back when the defense stopped the Titans with one yard to gain on third and fourth down, they took nearly five minutes off the clock to gain just five yards. Burrow was sacked two more times on that possession, including on 3rd-and-8.
Joe Burrow now sacked nine times, which ties the post-merger record for most in a playoff game
Things turned back in Cincinnati's favor at the end of the fourth quarter. The Titans were attempting to drive into field-goal range, but Tannehill's pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was tipped into the air and picked off by Wilson.
This Bengals team is playing with house money right now. They have exceeded even their most optimistic projections coming into the season yet are just one win away from playing in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.
There are a lot of things for head coach Zac Taylor and his staff to clean up before playing either the Chiefs or Buffalo Bills next week. For now, though, they can celebrate a hard-fought win over the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Titans' Playmakers Stumble in Playoff Loss
The biggest storyline for the Titans coming into this game was finally having all of their key players back for the first time in three months.
Henry certainly didn't look like he was limited based on the volume of touches, but the two-time Pro Bowler wasn't the player who was barreling over opponents prior to his injury. His 62 rushing yards against the Bengals was his second-lowest total of the season (58 in Week 1).
Head coach Mike Vrabel called Henry's number on a two-point conversion attempt from the 1-yard line. He was stopped short of the goal line to keep the score tied at six.
It wasn't until Vrabel started relying on Brown and D'Onta Foreman in the second half that the Titans were able to find big plays.
Trailing 16-9 in the third quarter, Amani Hooker reeled in an interception from Burrow and return it 15 yards to the Bengals' 27-yard line.
Two plays later, Tannehill threw his best pass of the day to Brown in the corner of the end zone that the big receiver was able to haul in for the game-tying score.
On the previous Titans drive that resulted in a field goal, Brown had a 40-yard reception. He finished with 142 of Tannehill's 220 passing yards.
Foreman—who did well in Henry's absence during the regular season—was a big-play machine on Saturday. He gained 66 yards on just four carries.
Vrabel and the coaching staff made a series of questionable decisions throughout the game. The two-play sequence in the fourth quarter that resulted in a turnover on downs started with Tannehill running a draw on 3rd-and-1.
Little woe-is-me to Mike Vrabel’s post-game comments. Got and deserved huge benefit of the doubt through incredible regular season. Should be coach of the year. Has things to answer for now, sorry. #Titans.
This result is certainly a disappointment for the Titans, especially after they earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC. All of the pieces seemed to line up in their favor, with everyone coming back.
Things didn't work out, but given everything that the Titans dealt with all season, it was impressive that they managed to earn the spot in the AFC. They set a new NFL record for most players used (85), and they hit that mark in Week 12.
If the Titans have better injury luck in 2022, with most of their core players set to come back, they should be favored to win the AFC South yet again.
What's Next?
The Bengalswill play the winner of Sunday's Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs matchup in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 30.
Titans Tie Single-Game NFL Playoff Record with 9 Sacks in Loss to Joe Burrow, Bengals
Jan 23, 2022
Tennessee Titans' Anthony Rush and Harold Landry sack Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Tennessee Titans defense had itself an afternoon against the Cincinnati Bengals despite a 19-16 loss in Saturday's AFC Divisional Round matchup.
The Titans tied the NFL's single-game playoff record for the most sacks in a contest after getting to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow nine times. The last team to have nine sacks in a playoff game was the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994.
The Titans defense limited Burrow to 348 yards, no touchdowns and an interception on Saturday. Tennessee might have won if Ryan Tannehill hadn't thrown three interceptions, including a pick with just 20 seconds remaining in the game.
The Bengals charged back down the field and rookie Evan McPherson kicked the game-winning 52-yard field goal to send Cincinnati to the AFC Championship Game.
Report: Titans' Derrick Henry Won't Face Snap Count vs. Bengals in Return from Injury
Jan 22, 2022
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 24: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick
Henry reportedly won't be on a snap count when he returns from a foot
injury for Saturday's divisional-round playoff game against the
Cincinnati Bengals.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Henry
will have "no limitations" in his first appearance since Week 8,
but the Titans' coaching staff plans to "keep a close eye on him" to monitor his level of conditioning after the extended absence.
While the 2020 NFL Offensive Player of
the Year has been given the green light to play, his recovery from
the foot injury remains ongoing.
Henry confirmed earlier in the week
he's still got a steel plate in his foot, and Ian Rapoport of the NFL
Network reported Saturday the punishing rusher is also expected to
wear a metal plate in his shoe for further protection against the
Bengals:
The metal plate is a modified
orthotic to protect the foot from stress and stop it from flexing. It
takes pressure off the repaired area to keep it safe while he's
running and cutting. He can run without any reservations.
As for the plate, it's considered
more secure and stable than simply inserting a screw into the
repaired metatarsal. Henry actually has one plate and five screws in
his foot.
Henry said after Wednesday's practice,
which featured full pads and contact, he came through without any
setbacks.
"I felt great," he told
reporters. "I just wanted to get some pads on. Haven't had them on
in a while and got some contact going."
The two-time rushing champion was off
to another terrific start in 2021 before the injury. He rushed for
937 yards on 219 carries (4.3 YPC) with 10 touchdowns in eight
appearances. His rushing yardage finished ninth in the league despite
missing the final nine games.
Getting him back provides a major boost
to the Tennessee offense, which is at its most dangerous when Henry
is carrying the load and opening up the play-action passing game for
quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Henry should also benefit from making
his comeback against a Cincinnati defense that ranked 29th in rushing
yards allowed (148 per game) during the regular season.
The Titans were able to secure the top
spot in the AFC with a 12-5 record despite being without one of their
cornerstones, so his return combined with home-field advantage put
the team in a promising position as it stands two wins away from a
Super Bowl berth.
D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard
are next up on Tennessee's running-back depth chart should Henry be
limited at all during Saturday's game.
Derrick Henry Activated for Titans vs. Bengals After Injury Recovery
Jan 21, 2022
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee Titans superstar running back Derrick Henry was activated from injured reserve Friday for Saturday's AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Henry, 28, has seen much of his 2021 campaign impacted by injury. He was having a superb start to the season, with 937 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through eight games, but a fractured foot cost him the final nine games of the regular season.
To put his production in perspective, he still finished the regular season ninth in the NFL in rushing yards despite missing over half of the campaign.
He was expected to make a return for the postseason, however, especially after the Titans secured the top overall seed in the AFC and a first-round bye.
Henry has become something of a singular force at the running back position. He led the NFL in both rushing yards (2,027) and rushing touchdowns (17) in 2020, becoming the first player since Chris Johnson in 2008 to hit the 2,000-yard mark, and just the eighth player in NFL history to achieve the feat. Eric Dickerson holds the single-season record with 2,105 yards, set in the 1984 season.
It wasn't a fluke. Henry also rushed for 1,540 and 16 touchdowns in 2019.
But there were always questions about whether his workload might catch up to him—he combined for 718 touches between the 2019-20 season, an enormous number in the modern NFL, which has largely pivoted to running back committees—and was on pace for 400 carries in the 2021 season before his injury.
The Titans managed to persevere without Henry for much of the regular season, and now that they are set to get him back, they will have a huge weapon at their disposal against Cincinnati.
It is unclear if Henry will receive his normal workload Saturday, but if head coach Mike Vrabel wants to ease him back in, he has the luxury of also utilizing D'Onta Foreman, who rushed for 566 yards and three touchdowns in nine games during Henry's absence.
Titans' Derrick Henry 'Responded Well' to Contact at Practice Before Possible Return
Jan 19, 2022
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry "responded well" to contact in a padded practice Tuesday, per ESPN's Turron Davenport, potentially signaling a return to the field Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had defensive players bang into Henry during individual drills to replicate in-game contact.
"It has been a while since he has had contact," Vrabel said Tuesday. "We will have a week of work, see how he feels, and make a decision."
Henry has been out since Week 8 because of a fractured foot, but he was designated to return Jan. 5, allowing him to participate in practices.
The 28-year-old spoke about his projected return to the field Wednesday:
"I feel good," he told reporters. "I haven't done anything in two-and-a-half months. Just getting acclimated and getting back to being me."
Henry was dominant before the injury, totaling 937 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games. He finished inside the top 10 in the NFL in each category despite playing less than half the regular season.
The 117.1 rushing yards per game would have easily led the league if he qualified, with only Jonathan Taylor (106.5) averaging more than 90 yards per game.
It was business as usual for Henry, who led the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns in each of the past two years. His 2,027 rushing yards in 2020 were the fifth-most in NFL history.
His return could be a significant boost for the Titans, who earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the conference's only bye. The week off gave Henry extra time to work his way back to full strength, which could be scary for the Bengals.
The running back couldn't commit to playing in Saturday's game, however.
Derrick, do you expect to play against the Bengals?
The impending return of Derrick Henry should excite the Tennessee Titans roster and fans. The running back is heading toward a return for Saturday afternoon's game after practicing each of the last two days...
Titans Clinch Home-Field Advantage Throughout 2022 AFC Playoffs with Win vs. Texans
Jan 9, 2022
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 09: A.J. Brown #11 of the Tennessee Titans catches the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Tennessee Titans have clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 28-25 Week 18 win over the Houston Texans.
The team will now get the lone bye in the conference, as well as home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Tennessee appeared a long shot to earn the top seed after losing three of four games from Week 11 to 15. But the squad has bounced back with three straight wins to finish 12-5, including a tiebreaking win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.
It's an impressive accomplishment considering the injuries the Titans have dealt with this season, notably losing star running back Derrick Henry to a foot injury in Week 8. A.J. Brown and Julio Jones have also missed time along with key parts of the offensive line, but Ryan Tannehill has found a way to keep the offense afloat.
With players starting to get healthy, the Titans could be dangerous.
Tennessee went on a surprise run to the AFC Championship Game after going 9-7 in 2019, but last year's team stumbled in the playoffs despite higher expectations, losing in the first round to the Baltimore Ravens.
The challenge could be finding consistency, something that has eluded the Titans in 2021. Despite impressive wins over the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, they also have losses to the New York Jets and Houston Texans.
Head coach Mike Vrabel will try to keep his team focused as it looks to bring home a Super Bowl title.
Titans' Derrick Henry Not Activated Off Injured Reserve for Week 18 vs. Texans
Jan 8, 2022
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry will not return for the team's Week 18 showdown against the Houston Texans as he continues to work his way back from a foot injury.
The Titans opted not to activate Henry on Saturday ahead of Sunday's game in Houston. He was previously designated to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day window in which the club could choose to activate him.
Henry suffered a broken bone in his foot in Week 8, which required surgery early in November. Despite some initial projections that he would miss the rest of the year, he worked his way back from the injury to put himself in position to return for the postseason.
It would be a significant boost considering Henry's impact on the field. He led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, posting 2,027 rushing yards in 2020 for the fifth-best season in league history.
The All-Pro kept it up through the first half of 2021 with 937 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through eight games, leading the NFL in each category at the time of the injury.
D'Onta Foreman has emerged from a crowded group to become a reliable runner for the Titans, but it's still a major step down from a healthy Henry.
The Titans can clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win over the Texans.
Derrick Henry Rumors: Titans RB Expected to Practice Ahead of Week 18 vs. Texans
Jan 4, 2022
FILE - Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) is shown on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Indianapolis. Derrick Henry is just the biggest name in a revolving door that has seen the Titans make 19 moves putting players on injured reserve and play a NFL-high 80 different players _ 11 more than the next closest teams. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)
The Tennessee Titans sit atop the AFC standings as the No. 1 seed and may become more dangerous in the playoffs if star running back Derrick Henry can return from his right foot injury.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Henry is expected to practice Wednesday with an outside chance of playing in the Week 18 game against the Houston Texans.
Russini deemed it a long shot that he plays against the Texans, but returning to practice would indicate he can return for the playoffs.
Henry was the Offensive Player of the Year last season as he made his second straight Pro Bowl, but he looked even better at times through the first eight games of the 2021 campaign.
The Alabama product tallied 937 rushing yards, 154 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and he also threw a passing score, putting himself in the MVP discussion.
Unfortunately for the Titans, he hasn't played since Oct. 31 because of foot surgery.
Tennessee is 11-5 and on the verge of clinching the AFC's only first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, even though its star running back and wide receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones have been sidelined for stretches.
The AFC South team has turned to a combination of D'Onta Foreman, Dontrell Hilliard, Jeremy McNichols and even Adrian Peterson while Henry is out.
Russini's report echoes one from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports that cited sources who said it's a "stretch" fans will see Henry against the Texans, but there is plenty of hope he will play in the postseason.
A healthy Henry would raise increase the Titans' ceiling as they look to land the No. 1 seed and parlay it into a Super Bowl run.
