Key Titans linebacker battle emerges amid Lorenzo Carter's retirement

The Tennessee Titans' training camp was already group to characteristic a compelling conflict astatine linebacker moreover earlier Lorenzo Carter's abrupt retirement.

Carter was slated to supply a seasoned presence. Still, his determination to measurement distant added intrigue to nan ongoing title betwixt James Williams and Cedric Gray, some second-year players quiet to unafraid a spot alongside Cody Barton.

Turron Davenport's ESPN column, released Tuesday earlier Lorenzo Carter's status was announced, captured nan anticipation for this peculiar battle. Davenport has projected that location will beryllium a neck-and-neck conflict astatine wrong linebacker.

"James Williams v. Cedric Gray. The 2 second-year players battled done reliable rookie seasons," Davenport wrote. "Now they'll conflict for nan opportunity to commencement adjacent to Barton astatine wrong linebacker.

"Linebackers are ever amended to watch erstwhile nan pads travel on. Williams, a converted safety, has already shown himself to beryllium a downhill thumper who will laic retired shot carriers. Gray seems to beryllium a much earthy linebacker and has a amended consciousness for nan defense. Both players fig to beryllium successful a rotation astatine nan very least, arsenic they gave nan Titans capable assurance not to adhd a seasoned free supplier to nan mix."

Lorenzo Carter, though chiefly known arsenic an extracurricular linebacker, has acquisition playing wrong linebacker successful definite protect packages, which adds an absorbing magnitude to nan Titans' linebacker battles. This explains why nan title betwixt Williams and Gray remains truthful applicable moreover aft Carter's retirement.

However, pinch Carter's unexpected absence, nan Titans whitethorn reconsider signing a free supplier to fortify their linebacker extent arsenic training campy progresses.