NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More notable than the guys from Titans training camp who are on the initial list of practice squaders is the one who isn’t: Rusty Smith.
But Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweeted that Smith is expected to accept the Titans' offer and join up.
Smith cleared waivers unclaimed, and while his feelings might have been hurt, an offer to join anyone else’s practice squad probably wouldn’t have wound up better for him.
The Titans do really like him, they just decided they didn’t need three quarterbacks on the roster. And they don't. Functionally, he will still hold the No. 3 role and if Jake Locker or Ryan Fitzpatrick is hurt and can't suit up, the Titans will sign Smith to their roster and dress him for a game.
If there was another practice squad chance, he might have had weaker quarterbacks in front of him at No. 1, No. 2 or both. But he’d have had to move and he’d have had to learn a new offense and won over a new coaching staff.
There could have been more reward, but there certainly would have been more risk.
Once he signs, the Titans will have filled six of their eight practice-squad spots, all with players who were with them in camp.
That list:
DT Stefan Charles
WR Rashad Ross
LB Jonathan Willard
CB Khalid Wooten
All of the players were with the Titans during training camp this season. Four of them were undrafted rookies while Wooten was a seventh-round draft pick.
Ross' selection speaks especially highly of him, because the Titans have a deep group of receivers and kept six on the 53-man roster.