National Football League

Several Titans miss practice, Mettenberger, McCluster sick

Published Aug. 25, 2015 8:41 p.m. ET

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) With a very short turnaround between preseason games, a handful of Titans got a break from practice Tuesday.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt also kept backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger and running back Dexter McCluster away from the team to prevent any illness from spreading to the other players.

A total of 12 Titans did not practice Tuesday. Kicker Ryan Succop's wife gave birth to a son, Cooper, earlier in the day, and right guard Chance Warmack had an ingrown toenail on each foot removed.

Whisenhunt said Warmack and most of the other missing players are expected to practice Wednesday.

The Titans beat St. Louis 27-14 on Sunday night and visit Kansas City on Friday night. Whisenhunt says Mettenberger was sick with what is believed to be food poisoning, while McCluster has a virus. Both saw a doctor before being sent home because of the risk of being contagious.

''On a short week, we couldn't afford to have a bunch of guys sick,'' Whisenhunt said.

Left tackle Taylor Lewan was asked if he ate at the same place as Mettenberger.

''If I did, I'll find out real quick,'' Lewan said.

Other missing Titans included cornerback Jason McCourty, who had groin surgery Monday and is expected to miss at least the next two weeks, and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who is close to returning from a high left ankle sprain.

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