Will Levis, Tennessee Titans tight ends thrive, plus more observations from minicamp

Situational awareness was the main focus for the Tennessee Titans on their final day of mandatory minicamp practices Thursday, giving coach Brian Callahan and his staff a chance to test their players on some of the most stressful situations the NFL has to offer.

The Titans ended Thursday's practice with roughly 30 minutes of situational walkthroughs, ranging from how to get up to the line of scrimmage quickly after a questionable catch call works out in the offense's favor, to fitting two plays in quickly before the two-minute warning, to setting up quickly on a fourth-and-1. The first- and second-team offenses and defenses got opportunities to simulate roughly 20 scenarios, all with eyes on being prepared the one or two times such situations may come up in a season.

"As I told the team this morning, you win the games in the NFL in the margins, and those are game-losing, game-winning plays that they have to be able to make and be able to be prepared for the situation, aware of the situation," Callahan said. "You've got to execute in the moment. So that's what that was today. Really nice job by those guys."

Here are three more observations from Thursday's practice.

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Will Levis, Titans tight ends bounce back nicely

The Titans' defense easily won Tuesday's and Wednesday's 7-on-7 sessions. The offense, particularly the groups led by quarterbacks Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, got their revenge with a nice showing Thursday. Levis was 8-for-10 passing, connecting on three deep passes up the seam and on out routes breaking toward the sideline, and Rudolph was 4-for-5 with a long touchdown pass and a beautiful throw roughly 25 yards down the far sideline.

Most of Levis' and Rudolph's best passes were targeted to the tight ends. Levis hit Josh Whyle deep down the seam on his first throw and connected with a wide open Chig Okonkwo for a huge gain on his last throw. Three of Levis' completions were to Okonkwo, with one each going to Whyle and Nick Vannett.

Two of Rudolph's connections were to tight ends, including his touchdown on a long run and catch by practice squad veteran Thomas Odukoya, who streaked between the linebackers and safeties in coverage for the biggest gain of minicamp.

After one of the many catches hauled in by tight ends Thursday, a small "tight end U" chant broke out from the offensive sideline.

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Malik Willis didn't fare as well

For all of Levis' and Rudolph's successes, third quarterback Malik Willis didn't have as good of a day. He was 1-for-5 passing with three overthrows and one ill-advised pass that safety Matthew Jackson likely would've intercepted in a live contact setting. Willis is 7-for-15 passing in three minicamp 7-on-7 sessions.

That said, Callahan told media Thursday that he views the No. 2 quarterback competition behind Levis to be an open battle between Rudolph and Willis.

Absences, walkthroughs and spectators

The Tennessean spotted 87 of the 89 Titans on the active roster Thursday, the exceptions being defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Several players who hadn't practiced much or at all this week, such as defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, receiver Kearis Jackson and cornerback Anthony Kendall, joined their teammates on the sidelines during the walkthroughs without taking the field.

Other players who have been limited, such as cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, receiver Calvin Ridley and linebacker Kenneth Murray, participated in the walkthroughs despite sitting out the rest of practice.

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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick atnsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.