Titans' Robert Saleh Prioritizes Injury Prevention for Draft Picks in Rookie Minicamp

In 2015, Robert Saleh served as the Jacksonville Jaguars' linebackers coach when the team selected pass rusher Dante Fowler with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft. During the first drill of Fowler’s rookie minicamp, he suffered a torn ACL, ending his season before it began. Saleh has not forgotten the incident.

Now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Saleh announced today that he will take a cautious approach with drafted players during rookie minicamps. He emphasized the physical toll of the draft process, which involves extensive travel and evaluations across the country.

While undrafted rookies—who typically undergo fewer pre-draft evaluations—will participate in full practice sessions, drafted players will focus on baseline conditioning with the strength and conditioning staff. This approach helps assess their physical readiness after months of travel and assessments.

"When they're going through the draft prospects, they've been through a lot of traveling," Saleh said. "So over the weekend, with our draft picks, we're going to be doing more baseline checking with them. So they'll be with the strength and conditioning coaches. They're meeting with all of us throughout the day, but as far as practice goes they'll be with the strength and conditioning staff, creating a baseline to see where they're at."

Saleh reiterated the importance of injury prevention, citing Fowler’s career-altering injury as a key lesson.

"Call it a scar. I was on the staff that saw Dante Fowler tear his ACL on the first rep of rookie minicamp," Saleh said. "So I've just taken the philosophy of these guys have had a lot of stress over the last month. Their bodies aren't ready for football, so we're trying to see where they're at so we can get them properly acclimated when they're here with the veterans."