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LB Wesley Woodyard facing lesser role with the Titans
After starting all 16 games last season for the Tennessee Titans, and 40 of the 45 he's played in the last three years, linebacker Wesley Woodyard is accustomed to starting.
But with the release of Tennessee's first unofficial depth chart in advance of the preseason opener agains the Falcons, the eight-year veteran finds himself listed as backup at inside linebacker behind Avery Williamson and Zach Brown who missed almost all of last season with a pectoral injury.
The 29-year-old Woodyard said he'd wait until later in the preseason before drawing any conclusions about what his role might be this season.
"It's still to be determined," Woodyard said, via the Tennessean. "I'm still going out there every day. There's not been a final decision made, so my job is not to worry about what's going to happen. Whether I'm a starter the first week or not, I'm still going to come in and have a key role on the team. To me, I'm a team guy. Whether I'm not starting or not, I'm still going to go out there, make plays and have fun."
Woodyard made 94 tackles in his first season in Tennessee after spending the first six years of his career with the Denver Broncos. But with Williamson's emergence last season and Brown's return to the lineup, he's been working with the second team in training camp.
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said Woodyard has handled the situation well.
"He’s done a great job," Whisenhunt said. "He’s going to be involved and play and participate, and his leadership has been very valuable to us. I respect the way he’s handled himself. He’s competing. There’s no question he’s going to play for us this year. So I don’t see any issues. I like what I’ve seen. I think he’s doing a great job.
"I haven’t seen anything to indicate that that’s a problem or an issue. He’s done a great job. He’s a great football player."
(h/t The Tennessean)
Photo credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
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