The Tennessee Titans have had to go through a lot more preparing for Week 4 than anyone ever thought possible. No, they aren’t just preparing for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ben Roethlisberger, they are preparing for a game when they don’t know if they will even have the opportunity to practice, or get into their practice facility, prior to the game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nothing definitive has been announced by the NFL, other than the game will be postponed to either Monday or Tuesday. Although Mike Tomlin said on Wednesday he is hearing it is a “strong possibility” the game will be played Monday, no one knows for sure.
Think it is tough on the Steelers? Think again. How this is impacting the 3-0 Titans has to be absolutely gut-wrenching on many levels. Not only can players not get the treatment they need, practices not taking place, but also players are getting sick. Head coach Mike Vrabel said the players who have tested positive for COVID-19 are not asymptomatic, but are showing flu-like symptoms.
No matter what, short week, illness, Vrabel isn’t about to make excuses for his football team.
During his weekly press conference, Vrabel told media working on a short week is nothing new for his team, in fact he cited a time when Tennessee played three games in 13 days.
Mike Vrabel says #Titans have worked on short wks before (Played 3 games in 13 days). Said they'll attack the wk. Vrabel, OC Arthur Smith, and ST coach Craig Aukerman had meetings w/players. They will get back in the building when they can. Vrabel feels they'll be ready to play.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 30, 2020
When will the Titans be able to report back to their facility? No one knows, but Vrabel doesn’t have any insight on those decisions being made. In fact, there were rumors swirling of the team being permitted back on or near Saturday, but Vrabel couldn’t verify those rumors. He said it could be earlier, or later.
Mike Vrabel said reports of the #Titans being able to return to the building may not be true. Says it could be earlier or could be later.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 30, 2020
The coaching staff will likely pick up where they left Organized Team Activities (OTAs), helping players virtually, but what about the players? The players losing those physical repetitions which are necessary to success?
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill emphasized communication, talking on film, and leaning on their past experiences to adjust and be ready through a virtual setting.
#Titans QB Ryan Tannehill on preparation this wk: There will be a lot of communication. A lot of talking through different looks on film. It's not your traditional on the field seeing looks. We have to be able to adapt and adjust, communicate those looks through virtual settings.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 30, 2020
As for safety Kevin Byard, he is going to be riding his Peleton stationary bike and doing conditioning in his back yard as he prepares for what he called a “fist fight and a blood bath” in Week 4.
#Titans safety Kevin Byard said he has his peloton bike and will go to his backyard to get some conditioning in so he can be physically ready for the game. Byard is also going to watch a lot of film.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 30, 2020
"Just trying to get ready for a fistfight and a blood bath."
No way around it, the Steelers have a gigantic advantage over the Titans in Week 4, whenever the game is played. The only thing going Tennessee’s way is the fact they don’t have to travel.
What’s next for these two teams? The next round of COVID-19 test results is the next big hurdle for the Titans. If no other players test positive Thursday, they are well on their way to being able to play on Monday and the NFL making the game official. But the results for Friday will be equally important considering the incubation period for the coronavirus.
Either way, stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepere for the Titans in Week 4 of the 2020 regular season.