A Patriot from 2013-2016, Logan Ryan will be starting at cornerback for the Tennessee Titans when the two teams meet in their playoff game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
FOXBORO – Given the fact that they haven’t played them in more than two years (since they defeated them, 33-16, on Dec. 20, 2015), the Patriots will face a number of unknowns when they play the Tennessee Titans in Saturday night’s AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
One of the guys they’ll see standing on the corner will be no stranger.
“He’s a brother to a lot of us in there, a real good friend of mine,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said of cornerback Logan Ryan, “but there’s nothing I want more than to see him lose Saturday night.”
A third-round pick of the Patriots in the 2013 NFL Draft who played in 64 regular-season games, starting 40 for them, over four years, totaling 251 tackles, 13 interceptions, 41 passes defensed and 21/2 sacks in that time, Ryan left as an unrestricted free agent in March 2017, signing a three-year contract worth $30 million.
Playing outside in the Titans’ base defense and moving inside in their nickel, Ryan appeared in 15 regular season games (he missed the first game of his career with an ankle injury that kept him out of practice on Tuesday), registering 73 tackles and breaking up 14 passes. but coming up empty handed in the interception department. He started and made one tackle in Tennessee’s 22-21 wild-card win at Kansas City last Saturday.
“Logan’s a tough kid, really competitive kid, smart player, does a really good job with communication, adjustments,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said on Tuesday. “He’s right in the middle of the action in his nickel position. He’s a solid player. He’s played well for them. I have a lot of respect for Logan.”
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey echoed those sentiments.
“He’s a pro,” Mularkey said during a conference call with the New England media. “Knows how to come in here and he’s been great. We’ve got a lot of young guys in that secondary room, a lot of young guys, and he’s been easy to follow. Great off the field as well in this community. Can’t say enough good things about him.”
Asked if the Titans might have picked Ryan’s brain to get some inside information on the Patriots this week, Mularkey joked: “Oh, we interrogated him until he was ready to drop yesterday. No, it wasn’t quite that serious, but we had a cup of coffee together. I’ll say that.”
Gillislee DNP: The Patriots reported that running back Mike Gillislee (knee) did not participate in Tuesday’s practice.
Defensive tackle Alan Branch (knee), running back Rex Burkhead (knee), wide receiver Chris Hogan (shoulder), defensive end Eric Lee (ankle/finger), linebacker Kyle Van Noy (calf) and running back James White (ankle) were limited.
The Titans reported that running back DeMarco Murray (knee), Ryan and guard Quinton Spain (back) missed practice.
Late night with Bill: Yes, the head coach stayed up late Monday night to watch Alabama defeat Georgia, 26-23, in overtime to win college football’s national championship game.
No, he wasn’t planning to.
“I didn’t want to stay up that late, but I couldn’t pull myself away from it. What a football game,” said Belichick. “Two great teams, great game, just a tremendous football game. I’m happy for Coach (Nick) Saban, Coach (Brian) Daboll, all the people at Alabama. Great competitive effort from Georgia, Coach (Kirby) Smart and his staff. Yeah, it was a great, great football game.”
Saban, the Crimson Tide’s head coach, served as Belichick’s defensive coordinator in Cleveland from 1991-1994, while Daboll was his wide receivers coach (from 2002-2006), an offensive coaching assistant (2013) and tight ends coach (2014-2016) in New England.