Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse, recognized as one of the NFL’s underrated assets, is expected to be ready for the regular season opener, according to Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com. This aligns with the goal Stonehouse set for himself in June.
The 25-year-old Stonehouse suffered significant injuries in his plant leg, including a torn ACL, MCL, and a broken bone during a Week 13 game against the Colts in December.
These injuries cast doubt on his availability for the start of the 2024 season. However, updates from McCormick and Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com in July indicated that Stonehouse had a strong chance of being ready for Week 1.
Stonehouse is slated to make an appearance in today’s preseason finale against the Saints, likely marking the final step in his journey to return to the active roster. McCormick notes that Stonehouse showcased his recovery by launching a 60-yard punt in practice last week, indicating that his powerful leg is back in form.
An undrafted free agent from Colorado State in 2022, Stonehouse broke Sammy Baugh’s long-standing single-season punting average record in his rookie year, raising the NFL standard from 51.4 yards per punt (set in 1940) to 53.1 yards. Stonehouse maintained that average in 2023 before his season was cut short. He also managed to place over half of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line last year.
Stonehouse expressed his excitement about his planned appearance in today’s game, saying, “Obviously, I’m going to continue my rehab throughout the year, but getting these game reps is really exciting. I think it’ll help me get back in that groove and identify any discomfort I might have during the game so I can address it in the next two weeks.”
If everything goes as planned, the Titans are likely to waive Ty Zentner, although they may keep him on the practice squad if he clears waivers. Zentner, who signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2023, played in four games for the Texans and five for the Titans after Stonehouse’s injury.
A report from July mentioned that Zentner, who averaged 46.5 yards per punt with Tennessee as a rookie, showed improvement during offseason practices.
