The Tennessee Titans released 11 players Sunday to pare the roster to 75 in advance of a league imposed Monday deadline. The Titans also placed WR Marc Mariani on IR and S Markelle Martin on reserve PUP.
Tennessee waived the following players: P/K Will Batson, G George Bias, WR Chase Deadder, RB Herb Donaldson, WR LaQuinton Evans, WR Marcus Harris, TE Joey Haynos, T Jonathan Palmer, S Christian Scott, QB Nick Stephens and C William Vlachos.
“It’s not a surprise probably (for some guys), but it’s still disappointing when you actually hear someone tell you that it’s not going to work this year,” coach Mike Munchak said. “The good thing is some of these guys have a chance because of the practice squad.”
Mariani was placed on IR for the season after suffering a fractured tibia in Thursday’s win over the Cardinals. The third-year wide receiver was visited by family members and teammates in a local Nashville hospital after he underwent surgery Thursday night.
“He has a lot of people reaching out to him,” Munchak said at his Friday press conference. “Anytime you see that on a football field, it is hard to comprehend all of that. It is disappointing, but he is in as good of spirits as you can be.”
Martin, a seventh round pick from Oklahoma State, can return to the active roster after the first six weeks of the regular season. The safety missed all of training camp after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month.
Britt’s status still in question: Munchak hopes to hear from the league office on if WR Kenny Britt will be suspended by the end of this week. When Britt was arrested on July 20 for suspicion of DUI it was his eighth incident with law enforcement officials since he entered the NFL in 2009. Britt was warned by Commissioner Roger Goodell in August 2011 that he could face a suspension if he committed a subsequent violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
The Titans also have until two days before the season opener vs. the Patriots on Sept. 9 to decide whether to keep Britt on PUP. If Britt remains on PUP at the start of the regular season, he will be inactive for the Titans’ first six games. If Britt is suspended by the league, he will be unable to rehab his injured knees at the Titans’ facility during the period.
Britt won’t play in the Titans’ preseason finale on Thursday vs. the Saints, Munchak said.
“We would probably give him the extra 10 days to actually go on the field,” Munchak said.
McCarthy continues to excel in the preseason: With two interceptions, including one for a touchdown in Thursday’s win, Colin McCarthy has three in the preseason. After coming off a stellar rookie season in 2011, McCarthy may contend for a spot in the 2012 Pro Bowl.
“We definitely feel he has that type of potential,” Munchak said. “He keeps getting better. He’s getting smarter, he studies as hard as anybody does. He understands the offense and has a pre-read by the formations and the personnel that’s in the game. That’s why I think he’s in the throwing lanes quite a bit when they don’t expect him to be.”
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