Titans Coach Robert Saleh’s Cautious Rookie Minicamp Strategy

In 2015, as Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach, Robert Saleh watched No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. suffer an ACL tear on his first rookie minicamp drill, ending the season before it began. Saleh calls the incident “a scar” that shapes his current approach to rookie conditioning.

The Dante Fowler Jr. reason Robert Saleh takes it light in Titans’ rookie camp

The Titans entered the 2026 NFL Draft with eight picks and added 11 undrafted free agents. The drafted players are:

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• Round 1, No. 4: Wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State

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• Round 1, No. 31: Defensive end Keldric Faulk, Auburn

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• Round 2, No. 60: Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

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• Round 5, No. 142: Guard Fernando Carmona, Arkansas

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• Round 5, No. 165: Running back Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

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• Round 6, No. 184: Defensive tackle Jackie Marshall, Baylor

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• Round 6, No. 194: Center Pat Coogan, Indiana

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• Round 7, No. 225: Tight end Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma

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Saleh instructed that drafted rookies will spend the weekend in the weight room with strength and conditioning staff for baseline assessments, avoiding full on-field drills. He says the month-long pre-draft travel leaves their bodies “not ready for football.” Undrafted free agents will meet coaches but will not receive the same baseline checks.

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Saleh said the Titans will “do more baseline checking” with draft picks in the weight room to gauge conditioning after travel, noting that “their bodies aren’t ready for football” and that the team aims to “properly acclimate” rookies before they join veterans.

The Dante Fowler Jr. reason Robert Saleh takes it light in Titans’ rookie camp

Analysts describe the plan as “not typical,” questioning whether limited early on-field exposure could slow rookie development. Some observers note the cautious approach may affect the Titans’ ability to evaluate talent quickly.

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• “Call it a scar. I was on the staff that saw Dante Fowler tear his ACL on the first rep of rookie minicamp,” — Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans head coach

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• “When they’re going through the draft prospects, they’ve been through a lot of traveling,” — Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans head coach

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• “So over the weekend, with our draft picks, we’re going to be doing more baseline checking with them.” — Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans head coach

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• “Their bodies aren’t ready for football. So we’re just trying to see where they’re at so that we can properly get them acclimated once they get here with the veterans.” — Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans head coach

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With the preseason not far off the horizon, the Titans will see how the eight drafted players fare as they move from baseline checks to full practice.

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