Rookie readies to replace Piller; Hentrich has MRI on back
Hurricane Ivan gave the Tennessee Titans an extra day of rest. They will need every minute of it to heal and teach rookie Jacob Bell how to work with the starting offensive line.
The question of whether the Titans can choose experience over youth depends on the health of Pro Bowl punter Craig Hentrich’s back. It was Aaron Elling, not veteran Gary Anderson, who took part in a walkthrough Monday.
The Titans want a second opinion on the left biceps of guard Zach Piller before deciding if his season is over. But even the most optimistic doctor wouldn’t allow him to play this week.
On his television show Monday night, coach Jeff Fisher said Piller pulled his biceps tendon off the bone and would likely need surgery, which would keep him out between three and five months.
Piller indeed underwent surgery on Monday, and will miss three to five months (see sidebar).
So Bell, Tennessee’s fifth-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio, is preparing for his first NFL start between left tackle Brad Hopkins and center Justin Hartwig.
“He’s a fresh fish …,” Hopkins said Monday of the 6-foot-4, 306-pound Bell. “He didn’t just make this squad so he could sit back and reap the benefits of being a Titan. It’s his time to play.”
Bell played 14 snaps with the line Saturday in the Titans’ 17-7 victory over Miami. But he couldn’t face a bigger challenge with the Titans (1-0) hosting the defending AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts (0-1) on Sunday.
The biggest game Bell has started up to now? The Mid-American Conference championship and the GMAC Bowl against Louisville. He said he will be ready.
“You kind of have to take each day in stride, learn and get better,” Bell said.
Hentrich has had an MRI on his back, which spasmed enough in pregame warmups Saturday that he could not play. The results were not immediately available.
Hentrich said he will be able to punt against the Colts. He isn’t making any predictions about what roster moves will happen before kickoff.
The 45-year-old Anderson has expressed interest in coming out of retirement to join the team that helped him extend his reign as the NFL’s career scoring leader.
But Elling, who was recently released after spending last season with Minnesota, was able to substitute for Hentrich on punts while handling kickoffs, extra points and field goals. Anderson handled only extra points and field goals for Tennessee in 2003.
“My gut tells me nothing, and I’m going to live by that,” Hentrich said.
“Obviously, Aaron did a great job last week, and I think he’ll do a great job this week if he’s here. And if Gary would happen to come, I think we all know what he can do. It will be an interesting week. That’s for sure.”
Running back Chris Brown sat out the second half with a sprained left ankle. He said Monday he was still a little sore but that he will be ready for Sunday’s game.
The biggest question for the Titans on offense will be the health of receiver Tyrone Calico’s knees. He sprained ligaments in both in the final exhibition, and had torn cartilage repaired in his left knee on Sept. 1.
The Titans predicted he could be out two or three weeks, and he didn’t travel to Miami. But he jogged on a treadmill Sunday, and Calico said Monday he felt fine.
“I want to play just like it was my first year of football. I had to cry to get my first year. That was up to my mom. Now it’s up to coach Fisher and the trainers,” Calico said.