Robert Saleh - Head Coach, titans Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-05 | Full transcript (primary source).
Robert Saleh addressed the media during a press conference on September 5, 2026, as the Titans prepared for their upcoming game. The session focused on player injuries and the team's approach to the unique flex week leading up to their matchup against the Jets.
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Transcript
Saleh: Robert had a couple players not out at the opening of, I think, Carnell, and I can't remember the other one. DMR. Thank you. Anything specific or taking advantage of the fact that this is a little bit of a flex week? Yeah, no, working out some kinks for Tate before you guys actually left, just some things he was working through, some stiffness. DMR had some soreness from after the game that we were just trying, we held them out today.
Saleh: To start with the two guys who are on IR, but eligible to come back, what are the prognoses for Aussie and for Josh? Aussie's dealing with a foot, and then Josh is still dealing with that peck.
Saleh: Is the expectation with them being activated that they're in return to protocol right now, or is it still something that we're prepared for? They still got to clear all their injuries for, they got to get cleared by the doctor.
Saleh: When does this week look like, four years yet, how can an extra week for, I guess, game week? Yeah, there's a million ways you can do this one. I think some teams give the guys the full week off. We're simulating an in-game, in-week schedule. So today is our Wednesday, tomorrow will be our Thursday. And it's just a touch on just introducing the Jets to them. But other than that, it's really just an introduction to what a normal game week will look like, so they're not surprised next week.
Saleh: With it being the Jets, obviously, you know, if you're a footballer, what are your thoughts going into the week of preparation, and how are you handling just like controlling emotions and making sure that it's status quo, so to speak? No, you know what, I've said it before, and I'm not, I don't BS when I say it, or I'm, you know, like, New York is still a special place. Gave me my first opportunity as a head coach. Our desire to win week one is, beat the Jets is because it's week one, and nothing more. Forever grateful for all the opportunity they gave. I don't hold grudges.
Saleh: It's pumped to turn on the tape and look at Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall and all the guys that we had, whether it was Will McDonald, I mean, Jeremy Ruckert still rolling, fashion who's grown so much. We had him as a rookie. Those backs, Isaiah Davis, Braylon Allen, like, they're studs all the way across the board. It's a really good group. They're doing a really good job, and they've got a hell of an offense, a chance to be really, really good, a lot of new faces on defense, but a lot of guys that, when you look at their name and their roster, a lot of guys that you respect, a lot of guys who have played a lot of really good football. So, really, under the radar team, I think, they've got a chance to be pretty good.
Saleh: How about you guys, like, Jermaine Johnson, Franklin Myers, those that played there, do you think about, maybe I've got to talk to them and make sure that they're controlled as well, you just kind of... Yeah, no, you're looking, but they're old enough to know that, keep the main thing the main thing. If you go out and try to be a Superman when Superman's not required, you know, you just got to trust that your best is good enough, and it's usually when you try to do more that things kind of go haywire. Stay true to your process, stay true to who you are, put your best foot forward, and whatever happens happens.
Saleh: When I recommended for you in New York, was there a point where you thought you'd have to do it differently if you got a second chance, or was there always a conviction that you were doing it the right way, it just didn't work out? Um, you're... There's two sides to that. One, there's always conviction in what you're doing, but there's always growth. And you're not always going to be 100% with every decision you make, and, you know, I look back at my first go-around as a coordinator, and then having a second chance as a coordinator, the things that I did differently, and now is the second time as a head coach, like, you just, you go through your experiences, you make decisions that you feel like are the best at that moment, and then you have a chance to reflect on whether or not those were successful, and even in success, you're still going to try to find a way to reflect on those moments.
Saleh: So, there's things that we did back in New York that I feel really good about that was the right thing to do. There's things that we did where it wasn't so good, and you take those learning experiences, you try to apply it to this opportunity, and look, we're still going to make mistakes. And going back to what I just said, no one bets a thousand, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to get a chance to do it.
Saleh: You're talking about the growth of this team. Is there any aspect of your team ahead of the end of the season where you're actually ahead of where you're talking? You know what, I'll be honest, we're such a young group, I thought the operation overall in all three phases, you know, on offense, defense, special teams, the way our guys are communicating, the speed at which we get in and out of the huddle, the pre-snap communication. I don't feel like we're making a lot of mistakes in snap. So, just overall, I feel like for a young group, we're a lot further ahead than I thought we'd be, but we still have a long way to go with terms of execution and precision, and that'll come.
Saleh: Relative to the 53 that's set, at least for now, what do you feel like the biggest strengths are of it? Our 53 men, Roger? Yeah. That's given the other team a scouting report, no? I'm going to hold that one. Yeah? No, I'm going to hold that one. Appreciate you, though.
Saleh: What was, I guess, what's it like when you had 91 guys out there, now today it's 53 plus practice squad, how much of a different feel was that? No, you know what, like today, not being in pads was necessary because one, aside from the heat, the lines are a lot shorter, an individual, and coaches, we're still kind of meathead-ish, and so we still keep the same speed, and so the guys got after it today, and so your reps are going a lot faster, your rest time in between is a lot shorter. Even when we're going team periods, your rest time is a lot shorter, and so there's an acclimation and a new stimulus in that regard. So from a tempo standpoint, it goes a lot faster.
Saleh: As far as the youth of the team, because you talk a lot about the urgency, obviously, how long before the youth talking point kind of becomes, sorry, what's going to be the year? Yeah, it's in the year now. Like, there's no excuse-making, there's no leash. We've got to get great very, very fast. But I made the comment a couple of times with regards to this being our floor, like, you give a young guy reps, they're going to get better. They have no choice but to get better, and when those, the objective has always been forever.
Saleh: Forgive me, I'm going to be a little winded on this one. You know, like, a coach always wants a veteran out there because they know what to do. They're where they're supposed to be, but they're not exactly running the 40 they used to run when they ran at the combine. A scout wants the young guy because they're as fast as an explosive, but a coach is afraid of them because you have no idea what you're going to get play to play. So the objective is, how quickly can you get that young guy to play like that veteran while he's still running the 40 he ran at the combine, right? And the best way to do that is give him reps. And we've got a young group, an explosive group, there's a mixture of some really cool veterans that are still in their prime on this team, and the hope is that the combination of veterans pulling the young guys with them, we get to that point of elite speed very quickly.
Saleh: Can you talk to the practice squad black guys letting them know you're just as much part of this team? Oh yeah, so we got, I don't know if you notice like a bunch of guys stand after. So we have a development period after practice where all the practice squad and the guys who either A, didn't get enough reps or B, are trying to work a different position from a versatility standpoint. You've got five minutes of individual to work through and then we run a seven on seven where the calls being made are the calls that are within the game plan. So they've got to stay clued in, they've got to stay connected to their techniques, they've got to stay connected to their, they're not just showing up to practice. They understand that, I don't like calling it the practice squad, it's the next 16. They're next up, there's an injury at running back, Michael Carter's coming up.
Saleh: And so it's a, so that we do our best to try to keep them involved as best we can and we do it with our post practice period.
Saleh: Robert bringing in five players off of waivers, et cetera. What's the challenge with that, getting them up to speed as opposed to some of the guys that are on the practice squad now who were here in camp? And how much of an indication of this being a changing team and roster when you bring in that many guys at this point? Yeah, the challenge first off for those guys is to get acclimated to this song out here. But and then you mix in all the different techniques. Like we're different, like you talk about a guy like Sackhouse who we brought in from Green Bay. The techniques he's learning are completely different than what he had at Green Bay. Both fantastic techniques. But they're different. And then you mix in the, just the schedule, the routine, all the different things that they have to go through. Moving. There's a lot of moving parts for those young men who came in here and it's our job to try to make it as seamless as possible and get them up to speed as quickly as possible.
Saleh: It's really a joke because the guy didn't get a lot of talk when he came in but he really had some touch to do. Yeah, he's, one thing you're going to find out about us is if you can rush the passer, you've got a home here. And Truman has gotten so much better in such a short amount of time. He's shown his ability to be dynamic and pass rush. He's gotten a lot better against the run. He's not where he needs to be to be a staple on that third down crew that rushes the passer consistently but he's, but he's an ascending player for sure.
Saleh: What would you say about the veterans versus the games? Take Anthony Hill Jr. Apply that to him. What does he have to do to get on the field more? And how has his process been just as far as learning that position being the quarterback of the team? Yeah, he's done a great job. He's gotten a lot better. His communication's gotten a lot better. Knock on wood. We've got a pretty cool linebacker room and I feel like all four of them are starting caliber between. Cody said, Anthony and James learning calling the new guy from Arizona. But those four that have been here, they're in my mind, they're all starter type players. So we're fortunate in that regard and Anthony has been able to learn at his pace and he's gotten a lot better.
Saleh: Last one. Talked about just Cam, his ascension over training camp and what you've seen from him. Anything you have to say to him now is like the switch gets flipped. It's regular season mode. It's go time. Have you seen that in him? Yeah, no. All these guys should be, in my opinion, they should be a full tilt. Whether it's OTAs, training camp, walk through, it doesn't matter. My message to every player, including Cam, is to keep ascending. You can't stay the same. You've got to find a way to get better. Pick something, anything to get better at that helps you perform on Sunday and for him and again everyone on the roster is just because you made the team doesn't mean that parts can't move. We can't have complacency. We need to attack every moment and for Cam, being the quarterback of this football team, he needs to continue ascending. And I'll say it again. He's nowhere near where I think he's going to be. He's a young man. He's second year in the league. He's going to get a lot better as time goes.
Saleh: Jim, last one. So, how did Fernando do during the start camp of finality? Did he do enough to earn the starting job? Yeah, Fernando's going to start at the right guard. I thought he's done an outstanding job. We gave him the opportunity to step in there and show what he can do. And when he got in that spot, he just wouldn't relent. And credit to him. He's a mauler. He's a fighter. He's a strainer. He's got a lot of work to do. As you guys know, he's going to see some of the best D tackles in all of football. But I do think he's up for the challenge. Thanks, everyone.