Dave

Ball

San Diego hopes Adrian Dingle will get healthy enough to replace Ball this week.

Ball would like to return to the Titans after briefly considering retirement due to concussions last season. Tennessee will let him set his value on the market before considering a reunion.

"(Coach Mike Munchak) kind of told me he wanted me to play less snaps and be more effective by doing that,” Ball said. “So I would be fresher the whole year and be more effective. That’s cool with me.” Averaging 47.4 snaps, Ball notched 55 tackles and four sacks in 14 games last season, but graded out as one of the league’s poorer 4-3 ends by Pro Football Focus. The Titans have the right idea.

The situational pass rusher is supposedly “considering other teams,” but hasn’t lined up any visits since the beginning of free agency. Unless Ball’s market unexpectedly heats up, he’ll likely be returning to Tennessee on a bargain-basement deal.

Ball didn’t attract serious interest on the open market after concussion issues led him to contemplate retirement at mid-season in 2011. The 31-year-old will return as a situational pass rusher after recording 36 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles last season.

He will be re-evaluated today.

Ball briefly considered retirement after suffering another concussion last November, but isn’t ready to hang up his cleats. Playing as a situational pass rusher, Ball tallied 36 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games (eight starts) for the Titans in 2011. He’s spent the past four years in Tennessee.

“After I was able to play the rest of the season after those concussion issues, and was able to be fine, (retirement isn’t) something I thought about much more,” Ball said. “I just know now I am feeling good, feeling healthy, and feeling like I am ready to contribute again somewhere.” Although he hopes to re-sign with the Titans, Ball expects to reach the open market.

Ball has long been expected to hit the open market, and will only be back in Tennessee if he fits the Titans’ budget. Despite struggling through another concussion last season, Ball managed to tally 36 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles as a situational pass rusher.

Morgan replaced Jones as the team’s starting left end last Sunday and appears to be in line for more work as he becomes more acclimated with the defense. With current starter Dave Ball on a one-year contract, it would be in Tennessee’s best interest to try and get both Morgan and Jones on the field as much as possible, as both were heavily invested in as high-round draft picks.