After seizing opportunities during OTAs, cornerback Micah Robinson is turning heads in Nashville. The former practice squad addition's ball-hawking skills now pose a challenge to veteran newcomers.
The Tennessee Titans had many rookies receive starting minutes last season.
Cam Ward, Gunnar Helm, Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, Femi Oladejo, Marcus Harris and Kevin Winston all started at least one game for the Titans.
Ward was the starting quarterback. Dike and Ayomanor eventually became starting receivers, and Helm started 10 games at tight end. Oladejo played in six games with two starts before his season-ending injury.
Harris had five starts in 14 games played, while Winston started six games despite not being healthy for the whole year.
There was a unique situation involving another rookie whom the Titans didn't draft.
The Green Bay Packers selected Micah Robinson in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tulane. He eventually signed his rookie contract with the Packers but was then waived after training camp and signed to the practice squad.
The Titans then signed Robinson from the Packers' practice squad after needing reinforcements at corner following the injury to L'Jarius Sneed and trade deadline departures of Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Roger McCreary.
Robinson was mostly used as a rotational player at cornerback but did start one game. He recorded 14 total tackles and one TFL.
It was easier for him to get playing time last season, considering how many different people started at corner for Tennessee. Darrell Baker, Harris, Jayln Armour-Davis and Winston were among the players who started.
Now, it's going to be harder for Robinson to get adequate playing time after the Titans have added Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott to the secondary. However, Robinson is slowly making a name for himself.
Robinson was named one of the surprises of the Titans' offseason by ESPN's Turron Davenport. With Taylor and Flott not present for the majority of OTAs, Robinson made the most of his opportunities and has impressed so far.
"Robinson took advantage of free agent additions Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor being out for most of OTAs. Robinson had early struggles guarding No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate, but he acquitted himself with sticky coverage that led to multiple pass breakups," Davenport said. "The second-year corner had two interceptions, one of which was thrown by Cam Ward. The other one was on a goal-line fade to Xavier Restrepo that ended minicamp.
Now, just because Robinson has looked good at OTAs doesn't mean that he's a lock to make the roster. It's still going to be a crowded secondary.
Robinson is still going to have to compete with Harris, Keydrain Calligan, Josh Williams, Latrell McCutchin Sr., Jalen McMurray, Erick Hallett II and Jeadyn Lukus to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
Robinson has done well so far, but he'll most likely need to repeat this kind of performance at training camp to make the roster.
