NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard practiced Tuesday and didn’t look as if he missed a beat despite staying away from the team after being asked to take a pay cut earlier in the offseason.
A possible answer on what the two-time All-Pro first-team selection thinks about that request will have to wait for another day, because the team’s longest-tenured defender didn’t speak to reporters on the opening day of mandatory minicamp.
Derrick Henry, a three-time Pro Bowl running back and one of only eight players in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards in a single season, was drafted by the Titans in the second round in 2016 at No. 45 overall — 19 picks ahead of Byard, the first pick of the third round that year.
Henry is going into the final year of his contract. In contrast to Byard, he joined the Titans’ offseason program earlier than usual.
“It’s a completely new offense, and just coming here trying to learn everything and getting used to the terminology. It has changed,” said Henry, who will now be carrying the ball in an offense coordinated by Tim Kelly, who was promoted after one season as passing game coordinator.