http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar.../510250365/1027
Titans receivers hurting
Former Dolphin Thompson to try out
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
No. 1 wide receiver Drew Bennett is out.
His replacement, rookie Brandon Jones, is hurting.
As anyone who watched the Titans lose to the Cardinals this past Sunday knows, so is Tennessee's offense.
The Titans expect quarterback Steve McNair to take back the reins this Sunday against Oakland at the Coliseum, but questions such as who he'll throw to still need to be resolved.
Jones suffered a right knee injury in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals, on the same play backup quarterback Billy Volek was knocked out of the game with a concussion.
The Titans received positive results last night from an MRI on Jones, but his status for this Sunday remains unclear.
Earlier yesterday the Titans released wide receiver Andrae Thurman to make roster room for running back Travis Henry, who is coming off a four-game NFL suspension.
Suddenly thin at wide receiver, the Titans were lining up some options last night.
Former Dolphin Derrius Thompson was expected to arrive in Nashville last night and take a physical today.
Thompson, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, is a six-year veteran with 29 NFL starts, 105 catches, 1,543 yards and nine touchdowns. He spent the last two years with the Dolphins but was released at the end of training camp this year.
Thompson was on his way to Green Bay for a workout yesterday when he got the call from the Titans. On his layover in Detroit, he boarded a plane to Nashville.
According to his agent, Vann McElroy, the Titans said they were going to sign Thompson. Titans General Manager Floyd Reese, however, said there's a chance other wide receivers could be brought in to work out.
Coach Jeff Fisher said practice squad player Sloan Thomas is another option for the Titans, whose only healthy wide receivers right now are Tyrone Calico, Courtney Roby and Roydell Williams.
The Titans struggled mightily on offense against the Cardinals. After taking a 10-0 lead they had 11 possessions of four plays or less and went on to lose 20-10.
"We had more three and outs in this ball game than we've had all year," Fisher said. "The frustrating part of our offense is this: in six out of seven games we've scored first in the first drive. We are having difficulties in that second quarter and it is a result of penalties and turnovers. You can't put a finger on one particular person.''
Fisher said McNair is feeling much better after staying in Nashville because of his back problems and is expected to practice tomorrow.
"It really helped,'' Fisher said. "He went out and threw (yesterday) and he felt pretty good. It is good to get him back.
"We took into consideration the long plane trip and the nature of the injury and thought it would be best to leave him behind and have him treat his low back symptoms here over the weekend, which he did, and he feels good.'' •
Jim Wyatt covers the Titans for The Tennessean. Reach him at jwyatt@tennessean.com or 259-8015.