The Tennessee Titans got the kind of update they were hoping for right before training camp opened: Amani Hooker is back in the mix.
Hooker had been placed on the PUP list last week, but the team said he was activated ahead of Wednesday’s first practice. That means he passed his physical and is eligible to take part when the Titans hit the field. He also appears to be cleared for contact.
That matters a lot for Tennessee’s defense. Hooker is the most seasoned safety on the roster and, at least for now, looks like the top option at the position. He’s also one of the longest-tenured players in the organization, having signed three contracts with the team that drafted him in 2019.
The timing is especially useful for a secondary that has been reshaped this offseason. The Titans brought in Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott to start at cornerback, while sophomores Marcus Harris and Kevin Winston Jr. are stepping into much bigger roles after serving as temporary contributors as rookies. Both worked alongside Hooker last season, and getting him healthy for camp gives that group a steadier presence right away.
Hooker played in 16 regular-season games last season, though he did miss the Week 18 finale, a 41-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also had a rough statistical year by his standards, finishing with zero interceptions after recording at least one takeaway in each of the previous five seasons. In 2024, he had a career-high five picks.
For Tennessee, the hope is simple: Hooker gets back to the form he’s shown before and gives Coach Saleh’s defense the kind of boost it needs. Starting camp healthy and off the PUP list is exactly the kind of first step the Titans wanted.
In Other News...
Titans Camp Battle Could Push Out A Fan Favorite
The Titans spent the offseason adding impact players at key spots, but some of the most interesting roster decisions now sit further down the depth chart. One of those is seventh-round tight end Jaren Kanak, a utility-minded piece whose value may come less from what he does on offense than from the ways he can help the team build out its depth and flexibility in camp.
Special teams is where Kanak could make his loudest case, especially for a club that wants to keep that unit strong under John Fassel. Tennessee has room to sort through several depth options as training camp unfolds, and Kanaks path will be measured against other players fighting for the same kind of limited roster value, even if no decision has been made yet. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Made Chris Johnson's Week 1 Tribute Feel Even Bigger
The Titans turned a planned Week 1 celebration into something with even more meaning after owner Amy Adams Strunk and head coach Robert Saleh took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of former running back Chris Johnson. Johnson is set to be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor during the home opener at Nissan Stadium, giving the weekend a ceremonial spotlight before the game even kicks off.
Saleh also used the moment to push the message beyond Nashville, challenging other NFL teams to join in and help raise awareness for ALS research. With Johnson already set to be honored on a big stage, the added support from the franchise has made the tribute feel larger than a single pregame moment, and it now carries a broader cause the Titans clearly want attached to it. [Read more 🡒]