George

Wilson

Wilson is probably still buried on the depth chart but made a bid for the fifth or sixth receiver spot. Martin Nance didn’t catch a ball.

“I’m getting less optimistic by the day,” coach Chan Gailey said. Rookie Da’Norris Searcy has flashed as a fill-in, but Wilson is one of the premier run-support safeties in the NFL. His absence is another piece of good news for Chris Johnson.

Recently promoted Kamar Aiken is expected to dress as the No. 5 receiver behind Brad Smith and Ruvell Martin. Still learning the offense, Derek Hagan is believed to be sixth on the depth chart. Rookie Da’Norris Searcy racked up a team-high 11 tackles starting in place of Wilson last week.

Wilson’s return should help some in run support, but not enough to save Buffalo’s woeful all-around defense. The 30-year-old Wilson can be reinserted into IDP leagues, though. He has 79 tackles and four picks on the season.

Wilson finished with five tackles in Sunday’s loss to the Texans while Searcy had three. “I wasn’t banged up at all,” the captain said. “You have to talk to the coaching staff on the rotation.” Wilson had 48 tackles in the first seven games of the year, but his IDP value is decimated as a part-time player.

The move clears $2.9 million in base salary off the books, bringing Buffalo’s total Monday savings to $6.4 million when combined with WLB Nick Barnett’s release. Pro Football Focus graded Wilson as the No. 8 safety in the entire league in 2012, but the new Bills coaching staff obviously didn’t regard him as highly. Wilson turns 32 this offseason. He can still cover and fills hard in run support, so he should have a good chance to land on his feet.

Although Wilson turns 32 next month, it’s not a surprise that he’s garnering interest two days after getting released by the Bills. The seven-year veteran remains serviceable in coverage and an asset in the box. He’d certainly be an upgrade on the likes of Lions SS Amari Spievey or oft-benched Jordan Babineaux of the Titans. Per CBS’ Jason La Canfora, more visits for Wilson could be coming.

Wilson recorded 104 tackles, finishing second on the team behind WLB Nick Barnett. 2012 was Wilson’s first season that saw him start all 16 games. He and impending free agent FS Jairus Byrd were the strengths of the defense, excelling against the run and in pass coverage. Wilson enters the final year of his contract.

Wilson’s signing comes 11 days after he was released by the Bills. The eight-year veteran also visited the Lions, but was otherwise greeted by a soft market. 32-year-old Wilson’s best days are behind him, but he remained an above-average run stopper in 2012, and held his own in coverage. The money is also on the team-friendly side for Tennessee, picking up a good player on the cheap. Wilson’s addition signals the end of Tennessee’s Jordan Babineaux experiment.

Wilson is the better all-around safety, but the Titans want more physicality at the box-safety position across from finesse FS Michael Griffin. DC Jerry Gray has left open the possibility of three-safety sets, which is not an abnormal NFL defensive look. It’s one way to match up with offenses’ two-tight end packages.