Alterraun

Verner

Verner will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Titan on Wednesday. A fourth-round pick by Tennessee in 2010, Verner was able to turn a couple of Pro-Bowl caliber seasons during his rookie deal into a big contract from the Bucs, but he struggled to live up to his salary in Tampa. After one season with the Dolphins, Verner spent 2018 out of the league. He retires with 15 career interceptions in 125 games.

Washington did not practice all week, but reportedly looked just fine in warmups. Still, he was losing his No. 1 receiver role to Damian Williams even before rolling his ankle. Washington is only a desperation option as a flex play. The Titans will be without starting corner Jason McCourty (concussion), giving Alterraun Verner a start. The rest of Tennessee’s inactives: QB Rusty Smith, T Byron Stingily, C/G Kevin Matthews, DT Zach Clayton, LB Patrick Bailey and LB Barrett Ruud.

Verner is the RCB in Tennessee’s base defense, and covers the slot in nickel. As Finnegan showed, it’s a productive spot from an IDP standpoint. “I like being inside, being with the linebackers, getting to blitz and guard some of the slot guys because that is where the ball goes most the time with the Wes Welkers and great tight ends,” Verner explained. “They like to work those areas.”

A 2009 third-round pick, Mouton is recovered from a torn Achilles and in the mix for a significant role this season. Verner, Tommie Campbell, Chris Hawkins, Coty Sensabaugh, and Terrence Wheatley will give Mouton plenty of competition for snaps opposite of Jason McCourty.

Verner has arguably been Tennessee’s top corner the past two seasons, but he’s viewed as more of a zone defender who can play outside and inside, and even safety in a pinch. Verner is entering the final season of his rookie contract. The Titans seem unlikely to explore a pre-camp extension with the 24-year-old.

Verner, at 5-foot-10, 187, isn’t a great fit for Tennessee’s new press-man scheme. Tommie Campbell (6-foot-3, 205) has been getting more first-team reps. The Titans also drafted Blidi Wreh-Wilson in the third round. Verner might have to settle for nickel duties in 2013, the final year of his rookie deal.

Campbell admitted being late to a meeting and failing to gain the coaching staff’s trust on the field as well. “If I have deep-third coverage in practice. then I need to be in the deep third,” he said. “If I’m playing Cover 2, I need to get the jam and then sink — simple things like that before they could throw a guy like me out there.” The Titans would be wise to get Campbell on the field more in 2013, kicking Alterraun Verner into a more natural slot role.

Verner, a 2010 fourth-round pick out of UCLA, started all 16 games at right corner in 2012, recording 81 tackles, nine passes defensed, and two interceptions. However, he tailed off at the end of the year, and third-year corner Tommie Campbell may push Verner inside to the slot in 2013. Verner is entering the final year of his deal.

Coty Sensabaugh will be the first-team nickel back. The Titans tried every way possible to get Verner out of the starting lineup, drafting two cornerbacks in April and attempting to promote Tommie Campbell onto the first team. Campbell flopped, and neither of the rookies made any training camp noise. Verner is a suspect fit for Tennessee’s new press-man scheme in the secondary, but he’s their best option opposite LCB Jason McCourty.

The Tennessean reported last week that Verner “could prove to be too expensive” for the Titans coming off his breakout season. The Titans apparently don’t consider the $11.2 million franchise tag an option with LCB Jason McCourty set to earn $6.5 million in 2014. Only 25 years old, Verner is the No. 11 overall player in Evan Silva’s Free Agent Top 150.