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Re: “AG Skrmetti: TN transgender minor care law is about regulation not discrimination,” by Jonathan Skrmetti, Dec. 4 (online), Dec. 8 (print).

In his defense of S.B. 1 which bans transgender minor care, Skrmetti writes, “As Tennesseans, we’ve always believed in putting children first…Tennessee has always had the right, and the solemn obligation, to protect its kids.”

Really Mr. AG? If that is what you and our super majority Republican legislators truly believe, why is it that Tennessee has continually scored miserably in the national Kids Count data?

For the year 2023 here is our state’s national ranking for the key markers associated with children’s wellbeing: Education 30th, Health 41st, Family and Community 38th. Does that sound like a state that believes in putting children first? I do not recall any of these topics being highlighted during the recent campaign season, and certainly no one suggested concrete steps to fix them.

Skrmetti spends his entire column attacking these “life-altering medical procedures,” which he believes “can cause kids great and irreversible physical harm.”

And yet according to another columnist, during legislative hearings no Tennessean claimed harm. Let’s just call this for what it is: fear of trans gender identity, which is clearly misunderstood by Skrmetti and others in the legislature.

One last point. While there are sincere and honest questions about minor transgender care, nowhere in his column does our AG acknowledge that the courts have routinely upheld the existence of constitutionally protected sovereign parental rights. We should be very careful about allowing our state government to interfere with these rights.

Thomas Riss, Mt. Juliet 37122

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Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans ‘ most consistent scoring threat in an ugly season now is on the injury report, and that’s why they brought back a player for a bit of insurance.

Kicker Nick Folk worked through some soreness, making a pair of field goals for Tennessee’s only points last week in the Titans’ loss to the Jaguars, his longest a 46-yarder. Both Folk and Brayden Narveson were on the field Wednesday during the portion of practice open to reporters, though the Titans listed Folk among six who did not practice.

Coach Brian Callahan said it was just some “general soreness” for Folk. But as good as Folk has been this season, he turned 40 last month. So the Titans (3-10) signed Narveson to the practice squad Tuesday after he spent training camp with them in case they need an option Sunday when they host Cincinnati (5-8).

“You’re always mindful of it with kickers and that kind of leg soreness,” Callahan said. “So he finished the game but was sore. … He doesn’t do anything on Wednesdays anyway. He’ll try to kick (Thursday), and we’ll see where he’s at. So I don’t really know how to feel about it either way. I just know he’ll kick tomorrow, and then we’ll have a better feel for his status after that.”

Folk has an NFL record streak of 85 consecutive field goals made on attempts from less than 40 yards, which included a 39-yarder that put the Titans up 6-0 last week. He ranks 14th in NFL history with 403 field goals and trails Arizona kicker Matt Prater by just four. Prater, who has 407 field goals, currently is on injured reserve.

The kicker signed a new deal this offseason after New England traded him to Tennessee in 2023 with Folk going on to lead both the NFL and set a franchise record, making 96.7% of his field goals (29 of 30). Folk has been nearly perfect this season, making all 22 extra point attempts and is 21 of 22 on field goals, including matching his career-long with a 56-yarder earlier this season.

Narveson had an impressive preseason for Tennessee, letting Folk focus on preparing for the regular season. The rookie from N.C. State was 6 of 7 on field-goal attempts, including a 59-yarder. He also made a 46-yard attempt as time expired in a 16-15 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. His lone miss was a 58-yarder at the end of the Titans’ preseason finale that was nearly returned for a touchdown. He made his first try only to have it nullified because a timeout had been called.

Green Bay claimed Narveson when Tennessee waived him at the final roster cutdown. The Packers waived Narveson in October after the kicker missed a league-high five field-goal attempts.

“If for some reason he can’t go Sunday, Brayden will be ready to roll in and he’ll kick and do all that,” Callahan said of Narveson. “So obviously it’s nice to have some familiarity with him, and he’s here in case we need him.”

Levis update

Among the Titans who practiced fully Wednesday was quarterback Will Levis. He said after the loss to the Jaguars that he played the second half after getting a shot after aggravating his right, throwing shoulder. He sprained the AC joint in that shoulder early in a win over Miami on Sept. 30 and later missed three games with the injury.

“Feel good,” Levis said after a 75-minute practice. “Just going to see how the week goes and see how the body responds, but I definitely feel better than the last time I nicked it up.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

An Alabama wide receiver who has found success against Tennessee is in the transfer portal according to On3 Sports’ portal database.

After spending three years with the Crimson Tide program, wide receiver Kendrick Law is set to look for a new home with one year of eligibility remaining.

Law has played at Alabama for three seasons and posted season-best games against Tennessee during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The best game of Law’s three-year career came as a freshman against Auburn in 2022, but his best games in 2023 and 2024 came against the Volunteers.

In 2024, Law recorded season-highs in receptions and yards against Tennessee in Knoxville with four grabs for 37 yards. Tennessee fans will perhaps best remember Law for his penalty during Alabama’s final drive in the fourth quarter against Tennessee DB Boo Carter that took the Crimson Tide offense from 4th and 7 to 4th and 22 before the try eventually ended up unsuccessful.

Law posted a season-high in yards against Tennessee during the 2023 season as he racked up 38 yards on two receptions against the Volunteers in Tuscaloosa.

More from RTI: Tennessee’s Playoff Path Includes Three of Top Four Championship Title Contenders From Sportsbook

Kendrick Law posted an encouraging sophomore season in 2023 but failed to reach the same numbers during the Crimson Tide’s up-and-down 2024 campaign. Law stuck it out with head coach Kalen DeBoer after the departure of Nick Saban but looks to be headed elsewhere as he wraps up his collegiate career.

The 5-foot-11 receiver and Louisiana native totaled 105 yards and one touchdown on just 10 receptions throughout the 2024 regular season, meaning that nearly half of his season production (receptions) came against Tennessee.

Law only played in six games this season, though, as he battled injury throughout the year. Law suffered an injury against Georgia in late September and didn’t return to the field until the Tennessee game on Oct. 19.

Kendrick Law is one of nine players listed in Alabama’s transfer section in On3 Sports’ portal database.