AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File

FILE – This Oct. 2, 2011 file photo shows Tennessee Titans wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins (87) celebrating with wide receiver Damian Williams (17) after Williams caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland. Williams replaces Kenny Britt as a starting wide receiver.

Damian Williams is in his second NFL season with a new offensive coordinator and no offseason due to the lockout. He’s also the receiver who has the task of replacing Kenny Britt at wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans.
Nothing like a little pressure.
“In the beginning, it was a lot of pressure just because you’re replacing a player the type of Kenny … and you’ve got to think about that when you’re the guy replacing him,” Williams said Wednesday with a laugh. “As we’ve gone along the past couple weeks, I feel comfortable. They feel comfortable, and I think there’s no pressure anymore.”
A third-round pick out of Southern California, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Williams has caught a touchdown pass in each of his past two games. He already has nine catches for 94 yards and is on target to easily top the 16 catches for 219 yards from his rookie season.
Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer wasn’t happy with Williams when the receiver told him he could beat a defender in a 38-17 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 9, then seemingly went on cruise control. But Williams had a talk with Williams and feels the young receiver got his message on the need to go full out when on the field or head to the sideline if needing a breather.
“He’s only a second-year player. He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Palmer said.
Williams will be making his third straight start Sunday when Tennessee (3-2) hosts Houston (3-3). The receiver did have the advantage of extra work in the preseason while the Titans tried to ease Britt back from a strained right hamstring, and Williams played at each of the three receiver spots.
But Williams worked mostly with rookie Jake Locker, so he’s still adjusting to veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
“We just have to get that rapport and get that timing and I think we’re getting a lot closer,” Williams said.
The Titans know they can’t replace Britt, who tore his right ACL and MCL on Sept. 25 against Denver. He’s what receivers coach Dave Ragone calls his own special type of player.
Williams has had some success in his own career.
He played and won a state title with now-Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn at Springdale High School in Arkansas before playing a year for Arkansas in college and being named to the freshman All-Southeastern Conference team. Williams transferred to USC for two seasons after sitting out a year and declared for the 2010 draft.
Ragone said Williams is very smart and understands what defenses are trying to do to him. He has some speed too.
“He can be physical with defensive backs, and he’s got that kind of pedigree. Great high school player, great college player and knows he can make plays. It’s about going out there each game and getting more comfortable for him,” Ragone said.
Hasselbeck has made it clear that he will throw to the open receiver, and the Titans are giving Williams the chance to show what he can do right now. The trade deadline passed Tuesday without the Titans making a move for receiver Brandon Lloyd, who was sent to St. Louis.
They did sign Donnie Avery the same day they placed Britt on injured reserve Sept. 28, and the Titans are working to catch Avery up on their offense so he can help more in the offense.
The Titans have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Terrell Owens, whose agent announced Wednesday on Twitter that the veteran is healthy now after his own torn ACL. Munchak said he didn’t know Owens’ status and that the Titans will continue to work out players weekly.
But the team that claimed Randy Moss off waivers last November doesn’t seem interested in T.O.
“There’s nothing going on at all with us,” Munchak said.
Williams has been in the NFL long enough to know that no job.
“You kind of take it as a compliment and a confidence booster. In the end, nobody’s safe. Well, except maybe for Chris” Johnson, Williams said of the Titans’ running back.
Notes: TE Craig Stevens (ribs) did not practice Wednesday, but he ran on the side. LB Colin McCarthy (hamstring) also did not practice along with S Chris Hope (left forearm).

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Read More: nfl injury report, titans injury report, kenny britt injury, kenny britt knee injury, kenny britt acl, Nate Washington (WR – TEN), Lavelle Hawkins (WR – TEN), Kenny Britt (WR – TEN), Damian Williams (WR – TEN), Marc Mariani (WR – TEN), Victor Cruz (WR – NYG), Torrey Smith (WR – BAL), Tennessee Titans

Although the Tennessee Titans have not made the news official, the latest word out of Tennessee is that Monday’s MRI did in fact confirm that wide receiver Kenny Britt tore his ACL. Such an injury ends his season and will likely land him on injured reserve within the next day or two. This confirms the news that was coming out as early as Sunday afternoon.

Britt was on the verge of a monster breakout season before the injury and his loss hurts the Titans and fantasy football owners. The Titans will likely add a wide receiver in free agency and hope that Nate Washington can step up his play in the coming weeks. Beyond that, they’ll be hoping Lavelle Hawkins, Damian Williams, Marc Mariani, and others can fill some of the void.

For fantasy football owners, the time has come to use Britt as waiver wire fodder if you’re in a single season league. Depending on how you drafted, you might need to roll the dice on some of the young players that had big week threes. Victor Cruz and Torrey Smith both blew up after being quiet the first two weeks. Normally you might be inclined to look for a more steady veteran, but all things considered, why not see if Cruz or Smith will hook you up?

If you are in a keeper or dynasty league, you might have some other considerations before waiving Britt. Dynasty leagues where you keep your entire roster likely have an injured reserve spot you can use. In more modest keeper leagues you likely will have better use waiving him, but it depends on your league-specific rules.

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For more on the Titans, check out Music City Miracles. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams.

It looks as if the Titans will have two talented defensive ends returning to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones practiced Wednesday and are expected to play Sunday. They missed the season opener against the Jaguars because of knee injuries.

“We were banged up the first week a little bit and we had some guys playing out of position,” Morgan said. “But I think it will be a positive for our defense to get us both back and contributing.”

Defensive end William Hayes, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Jaguars, saw limited practice time Wednesday and said he is hopeful of playing against the Ravens.

Running back Javon Ringer (hip/back) practiced for the first time in more than a week and said he expects to play Sunday. He missed three preseason games and the season opener.

Safety Chris Hope (shoulder) and wide receiver Damian Williams (hamstring) didn’t practice Wednesday and Coach Mike Munchak said both players are questionable for Sunday.

Williams said he would try to practice Thursday.

Looking for Cook: After he finished last season with a flourish and had a strong training camp, tight end Jared Cook figured to be a significant factor in the offense this season.

That may eventually prove to be the case, but he was only a bit player in the loss to the Jaguars.

Cook was thrown to twice and caught one pass for 7 yards. He had another reception nullified because of a holding penalty on guard Leroy Harris.

The Titans got off to a slow start against the Jaguars and only ran 49 offensive plays.

“Their offense pretty much … took the majority of the clock,” Cook said. “It was just hard for us to get things going. When you come out as slow as we did and you don’t have many opportunities, that’s going to leave you in the negative.”

Cook is very much in the plans going forward, according to Munchak.

“We definitely feel like he’s still a weapon,” he said. “That’s a good thing.”

Incomplete grade: Munchak gave fullback Quinn Johnson a grade of incomplete for his debut with the Titans last Sunday.

With the offense struggling to move the ball against Jacksonville’s defense, the 6-foot-1, 263-pound Johnson rarely got on the field.

“He only got like five or six plays,” Munchak said. “What he did, he did well. But again, it’s hard to get too excited one way or the other. On the offensive side, it’s hard to judge a lot of things.”

Johnson, acquired in a trade with the Packers, is filling in for Ahmard Hall, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Another new Titan expected to make a difference in the run game, tight end Daniel Graham, didn’t even get on the field against the Jaguars.

“There were certain guys we just didn’t get in certain packages because we had so much three-wide because we got behind,” Munchak said.

Practice squad: The Titans signed offensive lineman Troy Kropog to the practice squad.

They had released him from the 53-man roster on Friday.

It looks as if the Titans will have two talented defensive ends returning to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones practiced Wednesday and are expected to play Sunday. They missed the season opener against the Jaguars because of knee injuries.

“We were banged up the first week a little bit and we had some guys playing out of position,” Morgan said. “But I think it will be a positive for our defense to get us both back and contributing.”

Defensive end William Hayes, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Jaguars, saw limited practice time Wednesday and said he is hopeful of playing against the Ravens.

Running back Javon Ringer (hip/back) practiced for the first time in more than a week and said he expects to play Sunday. He missed three preseason games and the season opener.

Safety Chris Hope (shoulder) and wide receiver Damian Williams (hamstring) didn’t practice Wednesday and Coach Mike Munchak said both players are questionable for Sunday.

Williams said he would try to practice Thursday.

Looking for Cook: After he finished last season with a flourish and had a strong training camp, tight end Jared Cook figured to be a significant factor in the offense this season.

That may eventually prove to be the case, but he was only a bit player in the loss to the Jaguars.

Cook was thrown to twice and caught one pass for 7 yards. He had another reception nullified because of a holding penalty on guard Leroy Harris.

The Titans got off to a slow start against the Jaguars and only ran 49 offensive plays.

“Their offense pretty much … took the majority of the clock,” Cook said. “It was just hard for us to get things going. When you come out as slow as we did and you don’t have many opportunities, that’s going to leave you in the negative.”

Cook is very much in the plans going forward, according to Munchak.

“We definitely feel like he’s still a weapon,” he said. “That’s a good thing.”

Incomplete grade: Munchak gave fullback Quinn Johnson a grade of incomplete for his debut with the Titans last Sunday.

With the offense struggling to move the ball against Jacksonville’s defense, the 6-foot-1, 263-pound Johnson rarely got on the field.

“He only got like five or six plays,” Munchak said. “What he did, he did well. But again, it’s hard to get too excited one way or the other. On the offensive side, it’s hard to judge a lot of things.”

Johnson, acquired in a trade with the Packers, is filling in for Ahmard Hall, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Another new Titan expected to make a difference in the run game, tight end Daniel Graham, didn’t even get on the field against the Jaguars.

“There were certain guys we just didn’t get in certain packages because we had so much three-wide because we got behind,” Munchak said.

Practice squad: The Titans signed offensive lineman Troy Kropog to the practice squad.

They had released him from the 53-man roster on Friday.

Chris Hope has started every game the past three seasons for Tennessee and went to the Pro Bowl in 2008. Michael Griffin has missed one game since becoming a starting safety in 2007 and made two Pro Bowl appearances.
So when the Tennessee Titans added seven-year veteran Jordan Babineaux to the mix Friday, coach Mike Munchak says it’s to add depth and stir up the competition.
Hope welcomes the challenge.
“For the past (four) years, it’s been only me and Griff taking every snap,” Hope said after practice Friday night. “It’s been fortunate we haven’t been bit by the injury bug because we haven’t had any true backups with experience other than Vinny Fuller.”
The secondary has taken the brunt of the criticism of the defense over the past two seasons when Tennessee went 8-8 and 6-10. Hope said the unit was an easy target after three of the four starters went to the Pro Bowl in 2008. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan was the third Pro Bowler that year and was also chosen as an All-Pro.
“You look the past two years, it’s not like we played terribly bad. We may not have met expectations, but we didn’t play terribly bad. But name a group that didn’t play to expectations the past (two years). We went through a lot of turmoil the last two years,” Hope said. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to get a fresh start.”
Tennessee dealt with all that turmoil in January when owner Bud Adams agreed to release Vince Young, which happened last week, and coach Jeff Fisher left the team nearly four weeks after that decision. Munchak was promoted to head coach, and he brought in Jerry Gray as his new defensive coordinator.
Gray is trying to improve a defense that ranked 26th in total yards allowed per game and 29th against the pass. Hope had only one interception in 2009 with six tackles for loss while Griffin had four interceptions and 153 tackles.
Babineaux said he kept waiting for an offer from Seattle after spending the first seven years of his career with the Seahawks. But he never got that offer. Tennessee called with a one-year offer, and Babineaux agreed to follow Gray, his position coach in Seattle last season, to the Titans.
“I went where I was wanted,” Babineaux said. “Had they wanted me, I’d have stayed and the deal would’ve been done. I’m here in Tennessee. Now I’m in Nashville, and I’m looking forward to being a great addition to this defense.”
Babineaux said he can play both free and strong safety, though he likes being close to the line of scrimmage. He’s eager to join a defense with Hope and Griffin and push himself harder. Babineaux, an undrafted player out of Southern Arkansas in 2004, started 16 games last year and had two interceptions.
“I feel the urgency now that I have changed and being in Seattle the past seven years, there was a bit of comfort,” Babineaux said. “I’m ready to get back out there and showcase my talent, and I think Tennessee is going to give me an opportunity to do that.”
Munchak said Babineaux is definitely going to compete for a starting job.
“So he’s coming here already knowing the system, which is … a big plus,” Munchak said. “We’re hoping that all these guys compete, and they have to compete like they’re going to start because one injury and they are starting. We want that mentality that they feel they can start and play in this game.’
The question is how much of a competition this will be. Hope is in the final year of the contract that brought him from Pittsburgh after helping the Steelers win the 2006 Super Bowl, and he’s due $6.5 million.
Hope said he’s not the highest-paid safety in the NFL and noted some big deals recently for safeties. He’s still working hard and challenges anyone to check film to see if he’s slowed down as he heads into his 10th season.
With Gray tailoring the defense around his players’ strengths, Hope expects the secondary to be back as a strength once again. He said he and Finnegan talked earlier Friday about the opportunity they have now.
“He’s allowing me me to play more than safety,” Hope said of Gray. “It’s only going to bring out the best in all of us. Cort’s playing nickel, something he excelled at as a rookie and allowed him to make a lot of plays as a rookie … Griff is getting the opportunity to move around. I think it’s a plus for everybody.”
Notes: LT Michael Roos (back) missed his third straight practice. WR Damian Williams (rib) sat out practice after a collision Thursday night. WR Kenny Britt (right hamstring) has yet to practice in camp but is close to returning. DT Sen’Derrick Marks (shoulder) also has yet to practice. … The Titans released OL Anquez Jackson. … The Titans will hold a free practice Saturday at LP Field to cap the first week of camp. In a bid to entice fans, hot dogs will be just $1.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Matt Hasselbeck has been waiting so long to practice without throwing a ball that he felt like the rookie Thursday night in his first practice with the Tennessee Titans.

The veteran quarterback signed a three-year deal July 29 and had mostly been watching at training camp, limited to meetings until the collective bargaining agreement was ratified. He had plenty of company Thursday night with 11 other Titans, including defensive tackle Shaun Smith, middle linebacker Barrett Ruud and tight end Daniel Graham.

Hasselbeck sprinted onto the field at the start and could only think of all the mistakes he felt he made during the practice.

“Learn the cadence, I know it obviously,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s not that hard to learn, but when you get in a live competitive situation I think I reverted back to some of my old stuff. But Geno (center Eugene Amano) and those guys up front did a great job hanging in there with me snapping the ball. I think I only went the wrong way once – that anybody noticed anyway.”

Hasselbeck is being counted on to start this season and mentor rookie Jake Locker. He completed four of his first five passes in his first drill at the goal line, three of those to Graham. Hasselbeck drew his first big cheer when he rolled right on play action and hit Jared Cook for a nice completion in a team period.

He later found Cook in a goal-line drill at the end line with a pass that was a bit high, though the 6-foot-5 tight end hauled it in for a touchdown.

Hasselbeck credited Locker, Rusty Smith and Brett Ratliff for helping him out after a week spent watching, not throwing and drinking too much sweet tea.

“I’m asking them all kinds of questions. I think the perception was I was going to come in here and help those guys. I really have not helped them at all. They’re helping me all the way, and I’m really appreciative of it,” Hasselbeck said.

The 12-year veteran may have been a bit modest. Running back Javon Ringer, working with the first-team offense while Chris Johnson holds out of training camp for a new contract, said Hasselbeck’s energy was infectious.

“He was so like, `Go, go, let’s go, let’s go’ it was almost kind of refreshing,” Ringer said. “He was fresh, so it was kind of making all of us try to keep up with him so it felt good.”

The Titans eased in their new batch of players, a list that included returning veterans like defensive ends Dave Ball and Jacob Ford, fullback Ahmard Hall, linebackers Tim Shaw and Patrick Bailey and offensive tackle Mike Otto. Cornerback Frank Walker was signed Thursday.

Smith said it felt good to hear that he could finally go to work.

“I was signed here to do a job, and I just felt I wasn’t able to fulfill my job,” Smith said.

New coach Mike Munchak may have been the happiest man on the field to get all the extra players on the field. He planned to work in pads but changed that to avoid overworking players in their first practice. He said Hasselbeck worked so fast that they were able to add a couple periods on a night where they worked on the 2-minute drill and goal line plays.

“I thought he was a young rookie he was so excited to be out here, and the way he was calling plays in the huddle and the speed,” Munchak said. “I thought we had a good tempo going up until now, but he really picked things up even another notch. That’s why I can add periods. We’re finishing things so quickly, and the quarterbacks have really been making sure of that.”

Notes: WR Damian Williams walked off the field with a trainer after colliding with S Michael Griffin going for a ball during the 2-minute drill. … S Jordan Babineaux, whose agent said he agreed to a one-year deal with the Titans earlier Thursday, is expected to join the team Friday.

Matt Hasselbeck has been waiting so long to practice without throwing a ball that he felt like the rookie Thursday night in his first practice with the Tennessee Titans.
The veteran quarterback signed a three-year deal July 29 and had mostly been watching at training camp, limited to meetings until the collective bargaining agreement was ratified. He had plenty of company Thursday night with 11 other Titans, including defensive tackle Shaun Smith, middle linebacker Barrett Ruud and tight end Daniel Graham.
Hasselbeck sprinted onto the field at the start and could only think of all the mistakes he felt he made during the practice.
“Learn the cadence, I know it obviously,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s not that hard to learn, but when you get in a live competitive situation I think I reverted back to some of my old stuff. But Geno (center Eugene Amano) and those guys up front did a great job hanging in there with me snapping the ball. I think I only went the wrong way once — that anybody noticed anyway.”
Hasselbeck is being counted on to start this season and mentor rookie Jake Locker. He completed four of his first five passes in his first drill at the goal line, three of those to Graham. Hasselbeck drew his first big cheer when he rolled right on play action and hit Jared Cook for a nice completion in a team period.
He later found Cook in a goal-line drill at the end line with a pass that was a bit high, though the 6-foot-5 tight end hauled it in for a touchdown.
Hasselbeck credited Locker, Rusty Smith and Brett Ratliff for helping him out after a week spent watching, not throwing and drinking too much sweet tea.
“I’m asking them all kinds of questions. I think the perception was I was going to come in here and help those guys. I really have not helped them at all. They’re helping me all the way, and I’m really appreciative of it,” Hasselbeck said.
The 12-year veteran may have been a bit modest. Running back Javon Ringer, working with the first-team offense while Chris Johnson holds out of training camp for a new contract, said Hasselbeck’s energy was infectious.
“He was so like, ‘Go, go, let’s go, let’s go’ it was almost kind of refreshing,” Ringer said. “He was fresh, so it was kind of making all of us try to keep up with him so it felt good.”
The Titans eased in their new batch of players, a list that included returning veterans like defensive ends Dave Ball and Jacob Ford, fullback Ahmard Hall, linebackers Tim Shaw and Patrick Bailey and offensive tackle Mike Otto. Cornerback Frank Walker was signed Thursday.
Smith said it felt good to hear that he could finally go to work.
“I was signed here to do a job, and I just felt I wasn’t able to fulfill my job,” Smith said.
New coach Mike Munchak may have been the happiest man on the field to get all the extra players on the field. He planned to work in pads but changed that to avoid overworking players in their first practice. He said Hasselbeck worked so fast that they were able to add a couple periods on a night where they worked on the 2-minute drill and goal line plays.
“I thought he was a young rookie he was so excited to be out here, and the way he was calling plays in the huddle and the speed,” Munchak said. “I thought we had a good tempo going up until now, but he really picked things up even another notch. That’s why I can add periods. We’re finishing things so quickly, and the quarterbacks have really been making sure of that.”
Notes: WR Damian Williams walked off the field with a trainer after colliding with S Michael Griffin going for a ball during the 2-minute drill. … S Jordan Babineaux, whose agent said he agreed to a one-year deal with the Titans earlier Thursday, is expected to join the team Friday.