Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Jamarco Jones was kind of the forgotten man last season, as the veteran lineman missed the entire campaign before it started due to an injury.
The most we heard out of Jones was his on-field spat with left tackle Taylor Lewan before a practice. The expectation was that he’d be cut in 2023, but that hasn’t happened and instead Jones remains on the team.
I’ve speculated that Jones could be an option for left guard this season after he was competing there in 2022. Head coach Mike Vrabel touched on Jones’ health and how he views the versatile lineman ahead of next season.
“I know [Jamarco Jones] is disappointed in the injury and coming back and trying to compete in training camp,” Vrabel said. “It didn’t work out like any of us wanted it to.
“He will have an opportunity, and we’ll just have to see. He has to come back healthy, he has to come back ready to go and I think he understands what the competition is going to be,” Vrabel added. “We have to have competition throughout our roster, that is something that’s critical. That’s the only way everybody gets better.”
Another name we haven’t heard in a while is linebacker Chance Campbell, the 2022 sixth-round pick who saw his rookie campaign wiped out due to injury. Vrabel noted that Campbell is “back in the building” and has been recovering from knee surgery.
“We’ve seen Chance back in the building as he recovered from the knee surgery,” Vrabel said.
Even with not having seen a single snap out of Jones in Nashville, it’s clear Tennessee could have used him with the debacle that was Dennis Daley at left tackle.
As thing stand now, both guard spots are up for grabs, although newly-signed lineman Daniel Brunskill should be considered the favorite for the right side, where he says he’s most comfortable.
It’s conceivable Jones could take left guard, but that will depend upon who the Titans bring in during the rest of free agency and the 2023 NFL draft, as well as how good Jones looks when training camp rolls around.
Also, Dillon Radunz figures to be in the mix once he returns from a torn ACL, although it isn’t clear exactly when that will be. Corey Levin is yet another name to watch if he’s re-signed.
Even if Jones doesn’t secure a starting role or eventually gets bumped from one, he’ll be a versatile depth piece for Tennessee.
As far as Campbell is concerned, he’s no doubt a question mark, but he also has a great opportunity to secure some significant snaps with the linebacker position not having a ton of experience overall.
Azeez Al-Shaair and Monty Rice are the expected starters, but neither has many starts under their belt, making it possible for someone like Campbell or even Jack “Dr. Gibby” Gibbens to at least sneak in and steal some snaps.
Check out my recent appearance on The Rossi Report from March 27!
