NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans on Tuesday removed defensive tackle Tony Brown from the physically-unable-to-perform list, and he practiced with teammates for the first time this year.
Brown, who underwent surgery on his right knee after missing last season's finale, has said the past couple of weeks that he was ready to be activated.
"It felt good to get out here," Brown told reporters. "I been telling y'all I been waiting on the boss to tell me what to do, so I'm good. It felt good to get out there with just my teammates and share a few jokes."
The Titans signed the five-year veteran to a three-year extension worth $17 million in April but kept him on the PUP list throughout training camp to ensure he had fully recovered. Brown said he was told a week ago that he would be activated on Tuesday, news he kept to himself while trying to be patient.
"I'm just excited to be back out there running around pain-free, stress-free," he said. "All that stuff's in the past. I'm ready to roll."
The tackle said he can't wait to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. Coach Jeff Fisher said they will play Brown approximately 15 snaps, a similar approach to the one they took while easing their top draft pick, defensive end Derrick Morgan, into his preseason debut after only one practice.
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The move leaves only veteran linebacker David Thornton on the PUP list. He is recovering from surgery on his left shoulder, and time is running out with the final roster cuts due Saturday and the veteran set to make $4.3 million this year.
Fisher said Thornton took a big step forward Monday and is improving. Whether he is activated before Thursday's game depends on how he is feeling, Fisher said. Asked if that means Thornton could be ready for the season opener Sept. 12 against Oakland, Fisher said Thornton is "making strides."
"We just have to wait and see what happens," Fisher said.
Notes: The Titans trimmed the roster from 80 to 75 by releasing five players. They waived P Ricky Schmitt, CB Pete Ittersagen and WR Bobby Sewall and waived/injured LB Mike Rivera and DT Kareem Brown (left shoulder). ... Fisher ruled out OL Mike Otto (right knee) and DE William Hayes (right knee) for the preseason finale. ... DE Jacob Ford (hamstring), LG Leroy Harris (ankle) and rookie LB Rennie Curran (hamstring) did not practice.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
