Four different players returned punts for the Tennessee Titans in 2023. They were an inconsistent unit on special teams. Head coach Mike Vrabel fired special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman in early December. All in all, the Titans averaged a 26th-ranked 7.9 yards per punt return.
New head coach Brian Callahan initially had difficulty filling his special teams coordinator vacancy. Eventually, Colt Anderson, who Callahan knew from their shared days together with the Cincinnati Bengals, was appointed. A former NFL defensive back, this is Anderson’s first time as a coordinator after being an assistant for the previous four seasons (2020-23).
The Titans may have a new primary punt returner this season. Through Friday’s training camp practice, they’ve auditioned six different players at that position, per Turron Davenport. Defensive back Eric Garror, and wide receivers Mason Kinsey, Kearis Jackson, Kyle Philips, Jha’Quan Jackson, and Sam Schnee are those players.
The Titans need to be better on special teams this season. Let’s analyze all six contenders and their chances of winning the job.
Eric Garror, CB
Eric Garror ended up being the Titans’ primary punt returner last season despite not being promoted to the active roster until late October. He averaged 7.6 yards per return. Garror lacked the explosiveness and playmaking ability some of the other players flashed via earlier returns (and via smaller sample sizes), but he was sure-handed, with five fair catches and a long return of 15.
Winning the punt return job may be Garror’s clearest path to the roster. He played a lot of nickel for defense last season when injuries began mounting, but the Titans have Roger McCreary and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in that spot now. Garror should place heavy emphasis on impressing via punt return drills.
Kyle Philips, WR
Kyle Philips entered the league with an impressive history of returning punts at UCLA, but it hasn’t carried over to the professional ranks. Philips has not looked natural in that role when afforded opportunities in past seasons. He lost a fumble in his 2022 Week 1 debut versus the New York Giants (he also returned one for 46 yards), and lost another fumble in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills.
Philips only returned four punts for 23 yards as a sophomore in 2023. Ball security has been a consistent issue as he muffed a punt versus the Baltimore Ravens in London last season with one second remaining in the half as opposed to letting time expire. Philips will need to showcase significant improvement to win the job.
It’s also his clearest pathway to the roster with Tyler Boyd now in the slot receiver role.
Kearis Jackson, WR
An undrafted free-agent rookie out of Georgia last season, Kearis Jackson made Tennessee’s initial 53-man roster out of camp due to special teams prowess. Jackson outright won the punt return job, and had returned six of them for 48 yards before landing on season-ending IR with an injury. The results were above-average at 8.0 yards per return with a long of 14 and three fair catches.
Jackson must now endear himself to Brian Callahan and special teams coordinator Colt Anderson. A new regime means new opportunity, but it also means they’ll care precious-little that Mike Vrabel and Craig Aukerman appointed him as the punt returner last August. Jackson is a practice squad receiver if he’s not the starting punt returner.
Jha’Quan Jackson, WR
Jha’Quan Jackson could be considered an early favorite. The rookie sixth-round receiver possesses the best 53-man roster chances of any player that’s auditioned for punt returner at camp thus far. Jackson was an electric special teams performer at Tulane.
In five years with the Green Wave football program, Jackson totaled 734 yards as a kick returner, and 664 yards and a touchdown as a punt returner. Titans GM Ran Carthon mentioned special teams when doing Jackson’s post-draft presser. The selection was made with special teams upside in mind.
Mason Kinsey, WR
It’s hard to believe Mason Kinsey is entering his fifth season (2020, 2021-24). with the Tennessee Titans. A practice squad mainstay, many believed Kinsey would be released when Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel were no longer in charge. That hasn’t been the case, with Brian Callahan and Ran Carthon seemingly sharing their predecessors appreciation for his reliability and versatility.
Kinsey earned a call-up to the active roster last season as a part-time punt returner. He returned 11 punts for 100 yards and a team-high 9.1 yards per opportunity. Kinsey had the team’s longest punt return at 21 yards.
Sam Schnee, WR
Sam Schnee is an intriguing addition to the punt return unit after the aforementioned five players handled duties at the first special teams practice. A rookie undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa, Schnee didn’t get much special teams experience in college. He returned three punts this past season for nine yards, and returned four kicks for 79 additional yards.
Schnee was a prolific receiver in 2023, totaling 57 receptions for 1,039 yards and six touchdowns. He played a little running back in 2019, rushing 33 times for 128 yards and one touchdown. Schnee was a dangerous playmaker, and the Titans are auditioning him in a fairly unfamiliar role.
