NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vic Beasley’s been absent for a week, long enough that the story of him leaving the Titans hanging has faded from headlines. Thus, the one above.

Jon Robinson issued a statement three days after Beasley failed to report to camp in which where the GM said he’d made contact and made it clear the absence was unexcused and where he said Beasley said he “will be reporting to camp in the near future.”

(Photo courtesy Atlanta Falcons.)

Wednesday will be five days into that near future.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In one regard, Harold Landry is not big on the less is more concept. In another football realm, he is.

Shane Bowen said in early June he needed to find ways to reduce Landry’s snaps so he doesn’t get worn down and can be at his best on the Titans’ key third downs.

Conveyed that, Landry said he liked that Bowen wanted to take on any blame for it, but that it was “more me than him” that he tailed off after nine sacks in 12 games with none the rest of the way.

He called that a “cold spurt” he’s not worried about happening this year.

As for Bowen...

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Continuity is the keyword for the Titans on offense and the personnel is largely the same coming off a big 2019.

Still, Arthur Smith smartly offered a reminder during a Friday media Zoom that the team still has to “start over.”

He said he’s opened the creative vault in an offseason where he was not able to deal with players in person and watching him add to an offense that was really able to push the ball downfield should be incredibly interesting.

(Photo courtesy Appalachian State athletics.)

In terms of weaponry, the new element he has is a guy expected to be an upgrade as the change-up back, third-rounder Darrynton Evans.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – I question the Titans’ strategy at kicker. I question their depth at receiver. I question the caliber of their returners. I now question the signing of Vic Beasley.

But of the questions on the Titans' current roster, I’m actually OK with Logan Woodside as the backup quarterback.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans love to talk about their focus being on guys who they have with them. It's a reliable cliche.

But they better be wildly concerned about the player who says he will report soon.

Their biggest veteran offseason addition, Vic Beasley, decided to show up to camp when he feels like it.

Robinson on Vic Beasley: #Titans pic.twitter.com/GLXKRqC6Cf

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 30, 2020

It took them three days to merely make contact with him.

That does not suggest to me he's a guy who fits the "team-first, loves-football" mold and mantra they have worked so hard to build. Name a new guy and he fits under that umbrella. The early bit of evidence on Beasley, who Robinson said will "be reporting to camp in the near future" certainly doesn't suggest he fits, and he'll have to work hard to qualify.

There is no better way to get started than to embarrass the GM who signed you and the coach who's been counting on you.

I’ve texted Beasley and called him several times, including again just before posting this, getting only his voicemail.

Later Thursday, there was this:

Could have been easily communicated with a phone call and he would have been excused if this is where he was. #Titans https://t.co/ja91L6j8Z9

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 30, 2020

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No preseason games. No workouts against other teams.

From now until the Titans start off Sept. 14 in Denver, presuming all goes well for the NFL and opening weekend is played, there is so much football to prepared for but so little real football to be played.

Coaches fear live, to-the-ground contact when they are working with just their team. Getting a healthy team to the first game is the No. 1 mission, and if sloppy play is a result of that when things get started, so be it.

For younger players who Mike Vrabel and his staff must evaluate in an irregular preseason, there may simply be no way to avoid live periods of practice or some scrimmage situations.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- So Vic Beasley being placed on the "Reserve – Did Not Report" list is quite curious.

And what makes it more so is that I am updating this this at 10:30 pm CT Tuesday evening -- about six hours after the Titans announced their roster moves. There has been zero indication of what's up.

(Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.)

Not a peep for me from team sources, Beasley sources or anyone I can think of who might have had so much as a hint or know someone who might have. [Unlocked]

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The changed NFL world led to a 40-minute camp-opening Zoom press conference with Mike Vrabel where the first player question came three-fourths of the way through.

Welcome to corona camp, where veteran arrivals got tested Tuesday and went home. They will test again Wednesday and Friday and only after three negatives will they join rookies, quarterbacks and players who came back from early injuries inside team headquarters.

Among last week’s early arrivals, first-round pick Isaiah Wilson is on the COVID-reserve list, which means he either has coronavirus or has been exposed to someone who has it. His stay on the list could be as little as five to 10 days, but if he’s exhibiting symptoms it will be longer. If he were to return quickly, Day 5 and 6, for veterans anyway, are for physicals, being assigned Kinexon proximity trackers and learning about how they work and getting fitted for equipment.

As of the posting of this, he’s not yet agreed to a contract.

The other piece of notable player news is that Jayon Brown starts out on the PUP list with an unknown injury.

Much of what Vrabel discussed was the mechanics of running a camp and a facility given the restrictions set forth by the NFL to limit the chance of spreading the virus. [Unlocked]

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