Tennessee Titans 2022 fifth-round pick and wide receiver Kyle Philips was among the team’s biggest standouts in the Week 1 loss to the New York Giants.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill showed a lot of faith in the rookie receiver, as he peppered the UCLA product with a team-high nine targets, which Philips turned into six catches for 66 yards, pacing all Titans receivers.
“I didn’t feel like I was as reliable as I could’ve been today,” Philips said, per Mickey Ryan of 104.5 The Zone. “I definitely felt like I let [Tannehill] and the team down in a couple of areas, so I’m keeping my head down and go to work.”
Another showing of trust from Tannehill came on the final drive of the game, when the veteran signal-caller targeted the rookie three times (four if not for a penalty), including on a 21-yard completion that set Tennessee up for the potential game-winning field goal.
Big time throw and catch.
📺: Watch #NYGvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/JF6ry0osTs
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 11, 2022
“Just had a corner route. They went to man and I ran the route. Ryan threw me a really good ball. I was able to come down with it,” Philips said of the play.
Philips also made a big contribution in the return game, taking the first punt of the game for 46 yards, which helped setup Tennessee’s first touchdown.
However, it wasn’t all good for Philips in the return game, as he later muffed a punt to give the Giants the ball deep in Titans territory. Thankfully, he was bailed out by an Amani Hooker interception.
“The good punt return, that’s just all special teams coaches and the special teams punt return unit that was out there. They made phenomenal blocks for, made that return real easy,” he explained. “The fumble is obviously just 100 percent my fault. I got under it, had poor technique and wasn’t able to come down with the ball.”
Kyle Philips on his catch on the final drive, earning Tannehill’s trust, an up and down day with punt returns and flushing a loss… #Titans pic.twitter.com/o2AOCy6ZiX
— Mickey Ryan (@MickeyRyan1045) September 12, 2022
Philips is being a bit too hard on himself. All in all, it was a successful debut for him and the Titans must find a way to get him more than the 26 snaps he saw in Week 1.
