For the first time since being placed on injured reserve last season, Tennessee Titans 2021 first-round pick and cornerback, Caleb Farley, joined the team at practice on Wednesday.
After having season-ending back surgery last year, Farley started the 2023 offseason on the physically unable to perform list, where he remained through the start of the season.
But after being designated to return and rejoining the team at practice on Wednesday, Farley has taken the first steps to getting back on the field.
It hasn’t been easy for him, though. Farley said he’s still not all the way there yet and compared himself to a bird with a clipped wing.
“It’s a blessing to be out there but it’s still real difficult for me to run,” Farley admitted, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I’ve got a lot going on with this nerve but I think I wanted to get out there to progress and kind of force my body to adapt and continue to get better.”
“Being out there is an extreme blessing and I’m thankful and grateful for it,” he added. “But it is a frustrating process being out there. I feel like (I have) a clipped wing. A bird can’t fly with a clipped wing.”
Caleb Farley re-emerged today, wearing 22 (Tre Brown on the Seahawks).
During the open period, he moved OK, actually looking stiffer when walking than when running. #Titans pic.twitter.com/VP1wyWBIks
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 20, 2023
Entering the 2021 NFL draft, Farley fell because of injury concerns after he had back surgery and a torn ACL in college, with the former issue being the bigger concern for teams.
Over his first two years in the league, Farley has now had yet another torn ACL that ended his rookie campaign early, and a back surgery (2022) that wiped out the remainder his sophomore campaign.
Combined with lackluster play when he’s been healthy, the outlook for Farley’s career is not good right now, but he still has another year under contract with the Titans to try and right the ship.
As far as this season is concerned, head coach Mike Vrabel said Farley will not suit up. For now, he’s focused on building some much-needed positive momentum the rest of the way and ahead of next offseason.
“It’s good for me to be out there to try to adapt and my body just kind of make this next step, building some momentum into the end of this season and OTAs, whatever,” Farley explained.
“I’m just showing up everyday to try to get better and push my limits and see what juice I’ve got in my left foot and my leg. That’s all I’m doing, is taking it day-by-day. I’m definitely not trying to rush nothing.”
