Every kick by Bironas, Kimrin under scrutiny

Rob Bironas looked like he had the job won when he kicked a 53-yard field goal in the exhibition opener to force overtime. But he missed a 37-yarder wide right and a 44-yarder wide left in last week’s 24-21 victory over Atlanta.

Ola Kimrin didn’t take advantage because he missed an extra point in that game.

So the kickers found themselves practicing Tuesday morning with Titans general manager Floyd Reese and coach Jeff Fisher watching them from behind. Fisher said they both had a good session, making five of six.

“It is a start. That is what we look at is consistency out here. We are filming them, and you want to see the same stroke over and over. Coincidentally, when the ball goes right or left in the game, it is because they have changed it. They have altered their swing ever so slightly,” Fisher said.

“We are going to continue to coach them.”

But the Titans still will be scanning the waiver wire for kickers to protect themselves. Rosters must be cut to 65 plus NFL Europe exemptions on Aug. 30. With a young team in the midst of rebuilding, Tennessee can’t afford to miss field goals or extra points in the regular season.

Bironas said he has a short memory for mistakes and is trying to approach each kick the same way whether in practice or a game. This is his fourth NFL camp, and as a kicker who was with the New York Dragons in the Arena Football League earlier this year, he understands what’s at stake.

“I’ve been out there every day going through the same things, trying to get the same kick down every time. Unfortunately, Friday night I had an off night and missed a couple I thought I should’ve had that I’ve hit every day out here,” he said.

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INJURY REPORT:@ Starting offensive tackle Brad Hopkins had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee, coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday night.

The 12-year veteran hurt his knee near the end of practice Monday afternoon. He tried to walk off the injury, but then left the field with a team doctor. Hopkins had been wearing a brace on the same knee after a procedure last year.

Fisher said a torn flap was found in the knee’s cartilage during an MRI.

“Everything went good,” Fisher said.

Rookie Michael Roos will fill in for Hopkins at left tackle for the Titans’ two remaining exhibitions, and probably the opener at Pittsburgh.

Steve McNair watched practice, but Fisher said the quarterback would work Tuesday night in a closed practice at The Coliseum. Running back Travis Henry, who sat out practice last week, isn’t expected back in practice until next week as he recovers from turf toe.

Running back Damien Nash was held out again as he recovers from a strained groin muscle, and safety Justin Sandy sat out Tuesday morning after practicing for the first time in camp on Monday. Receiver Tyrone Calico also sat out as he continues his recovery from surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament last October.

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QUICK RECOVERY:@ Defensive tackle Rien Long is a fast healer, especially when arthroscopic surgery removed a troublesome piece of cartilage from his right knee. He returned to practice Sunday — only 11 days after surgery on Aug. 10.

“It’s a world of difference now,” Long said Tuesday. “It’s just working out the soreness and just the aftermath of surgery. Other than that, it’s working. Before, the darn thing wasn’t working.”

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Long is heading into his third season after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2003. He left Washington State a year early after winning the Outland Trophy. He started four games last season with five sacks and is rotating at tackle with Albert Haynesworth.

Long, believed to be the second NFL player of Armenian ancestry behind former Miami kicker Garo Yepremian, can’t wait for the season to start.

“Each year I improve. Hopefully, this will be a big year building off of last year. I feel a lot more confident. The game’s starting to slow down a little bit, and I’m expecting things this year,” Long said.

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WELCOME TO SPECIAL TEAMS:@ Adam “Pacman” Jones didn’t sign his contract quickly enough to join in special teams practice on Monday, but he had his chances Tuesday morning. He caught balls off a machine, then caught punts in a drill.

Jones immediately becomes the Titans’ best option at punt returning after he averaged 14.6 yards per return in his junior season at West Virginia last year with one returned 76 yards for a touchdown. The Titans need him to help a unit that was last in the NFL in 2004.

Coach Jeff Fisher said Jones has natural instincts at catching the ball.

“We are going to try to improve it a little bit right at the catch. His run instincts are good, and he has got a good understanding. Now it is going to be a matter of getting back into it and getting used to things and making good decisions,” Fisher said.

The Titans plan to give Jones as much practice with punts as possible over the next two weeks before the season opener Sept. 11 at Pittsburgh.

“The decisions that he makes are going to be his, and we are not going to second guess him. What we have to do is get him comfortable with making them,” Fisher said.