Malone Eyes Career Turnaround with Titans

NASHVILLE – Josh Malone’s telephone was ringing final season. The issue was that no one known as a second time.

Groups needed to speak to him and take a look at him. However that was so far as issues went.

After 4 seasons within the NFL, subsequently, the vast receiver spent 2021 out of motion. Lower by the New York Jets late within the preseason, he bought alternatives to indicate what he may do, however no staff noticed match so as to add him to their roster.

“I used to be getting exercises,” Malone stated. “It’s simply the chance wasn’t there on the time. I simply needed to maintain my head up, maintain working and simply look forward to the following alternative.”

It lastly got here in February. The Tennessee Titans – one of many groups that hosted him for a exercise final season – signed him precisely one month after their playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and introduced him with a possibility to earn a job.

His probabilities at a regular-season roster spot bought higher when Julio Jones was launched in March and A.J. Brown was traded in April. The consequence was that the 26-year-old who attended highschool in Gallatin, Tenn., a brief drive from downtown Nashville, at present ranks as one of many extra skilled and productive receivers on the offseason roster.

A fourth-round choose by Cincinnati out of the College of Tennessee in 2017, Malone has 11 profession receptions with one landing in 26 contests. Minimal although it’s, that’s nonetheless extra manufacturing than nearly all of the 12 vast receivers at present below contract with the Titans, half of whom are rookies or first-year gamers.

“I like the chance,” Malone stated. “Touchdown right here, you recognize, it’s simply destiny. I had the chance to work out for them earlier within the season earlier than. Fortunately, I used to be blessed sufficient to get a possibility with this group. I simply wish to make the most of it.”

Even earlier than final season, Malone’s profession was not precisely trending in the best route.

In 11 video games (seven begins) as a rookie with the Bengals, he caught six passes for 63 yards. Over the following three seasons, he performed in simply 15 contests and caught 5 passes. Cincinnati reduce him simply earlier than the beginning of his third season. He spent nearly all of 2019 and 2020 as a member of the Jets’ apply squad.

Then got here final season, when he was out of labor however showcasing himself in virtually weekly exercises.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” Malone stated. “It’s irritating. However it’s all about perspective. It’s all about simply persevering with to do what you do to organize your self for the following alternative and to be prepared for it every time the chance comes.

“… Simply maintain combating. Simply get in the best state of affairs, and simply make the most of the best alternative.”

He hopes that’s what he has discovered with Tennessee. As of proper now, he doesn’t contemplate it an opportunity to begin over however as an opportunity to show issues round and get again on observe.

“To get a possibility like this, you don’t wish to take it with no consideration,” Malone stated. “It’s actually a blessing.

“… I wouldn’t say it’s a re-start. I’d say it’s simply persevering with on the trail that this profession has set out for me on this journey.”