Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Vrabel doesn’t completely shut door on Taylor Lewan returning

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/28/23

There was a four-year window from 2016 to 2019 when Taylor Lewan was considered the best left tackle in the NFL.

But after two ACL tears in the last three seasons, the Tennessee Titans released the 31-year-old former Pro Bowler in a move that saved the team $14.84 million. But as Lewan rehabs his surgically repaired knee, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t entirely eliminate the possibility that Lewan could be back with the team in 2023.

"I wish him the best," Vrabel said, per the team’s website. "Like I told him: We'll see where you're at (later), and if you still want to play. If it sounds like he does, we could always revisit that. But those are not conversations we're having right now."

In eight-plus seasons with the Titans, Lewan allowed just 28 total sacks and a little over 18.5 pressures per season while making three Pro Bowls.

He was a key cog in turning around a Titans franchise that won just two games during his rookie season but had transformed into a perennial playoff team 2016 to 2021 that won back-to-back AFC South titles and made it to the AFC Championship game in 2019.

Mike Vrabel on how Taylor Lewan helped establish a winning culture for the #Titans. pic.twitter.com/un0BGLuhQL
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) February 28, 2023

Lewan joked about joining the Cincinnati Bengals during a recent episode of his “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, stating the team needed a left tackle on more than one occasion.

The former No. 11 overall pick said in December that everything was “up in the air” for him in terms of his playing future and that his ability to stay healthy would be the deciding factor on if he keeps playing.

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