Jones, Beckham splitting cornerback job may continue

Fuller was the Titans’ fifth defensive back in passing situations, but he hurt his right ankle on the opening kickoff of Sunday’s 25-10 victory over Baltimore. The Titans had no update Monday, but Fuller likely won’t be available when they visit St. Louis because he was on crutches after the game.

Coach Jeff Fisher said he likely will continue swapping out Beckham and Jones for another couple games.

“I may change my mind on that. But, that is our feeling right now. As far as working over the course of the year, probably not. The players need to get into a rhythm,” he said.

“If we have an issue with Vinny (Fuller), we may have to move some people around in our sub-packages. And if we do that, if Pac, for example, becomes a sub-package player, then I think it puts more stress on him, at least where he is in this defense to do both.”

Fisher said both Beckham and Jones were comfortable because the players knew what the plan would be.

Jones, the sixth overall pick out of West Virginia, was deactivated for the season opener because he needed time to improve his technique and understanding of the defense. Against the Ravens, he had three tackles, but Fisher said he didn’t see any mental mistakes or coverage errors.

Fisher said he thought the pass interference penalty was a tough call because there was contact.

“I thought the timing was good. That is the important thing. Penalty or no penalty, what we look at is what Pac did on the play. He planted, he closed, he was in position, he was athletic enough to get in there and break up the pass, and he understands that you have to avoid all contact whenever possible,” Fisher said.

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MORE JOB SECURITY:@ Place-kicker Rob Bironas’ job security with the Titans increases with each made field goal. Going 3-for-3 against Baltimore definitely helped after he missed his only attempt, a 47-yarder, in the opening loss at Pittsburgh.

This is Bironas’ first NFL job after being in training camp with three other teams. He kicked for the New York Dragons in the Arena Football League and held off Ola Kimrin and Jay Taylor in training camp.

Coach Jeff Fisher said he also was impressed with the number of touchbacks on Bironas’ kickoffs, which kept the Ravens from starting better than their own 24 off kickoff returns.

“I think everybody left yesterday with a great deal of confidence in Rob,” Fisher said.

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THROW THE FLAG:@ Protecting quarterbacks is a point of emphasis in the NFL this season, but Steve McNair didn’t draw a flag when he was pushed out of bounds while scrambling to the right sideline of Sunday’s game.

The Titans faced third-and-11 from the Baltimore 42 when McNair rolled right and was pushed out by linebacker Roderick Green for a sack and 2-yard loss. Coach Jeff Fisher said that has been called before and said it was a close play.

“If Steve had thrown the ball, it would have not been an issue. Had he thrown the ball, it definitely would have been called,” Fisher said.

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INJURY UPDATE:@ Running back Chris Brown is the only one of the injured Titans who didn’t need a bunch of tests after suffering a concussion on his first play in Sunday’s game. He finished the first half, but felt worse in the second half and didn’t return.

Brown finished with eight carries for 33 yards and three receptions for 25 yards.

“Chris is not 100 percent today, but he’s fine. I don’t anticipate that being a problem,” Fisher said.

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OFFENSIVE SWITCH:@ Linebacker Keith Bulluck got to celebrate the final seconds of the 25-10 victory over Baltimore on the field — with the offense. He got to line up as the Titans ran out the clock and clinched the victory, and he said it was a great feeling.

“It was the first time I’ve played offense since I was 17. I didn’t have any effect on any of the plays, but I was out there,” Bulluck said.

He’s not the first defensive player to take the field with the offense. Safety Blaine Bishop got to line up in protection of the quarterback in the victory formation.

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EXTRA POINTS:@ Samari Rolle forced only one fumble in his seven seasons with Tennessee. In his only game against the Titans with his new team, the Baltimore Ravens, he managed to match that by knocking the ball away from Chris Brown. … Kyle Vanden Bosch is tied with two others for the AFC lead in sacks with three.