McRath returns; how soon willl he start?

Linebacker Gerald McRath returned to Baptist Sports Park on Monday after serving his four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

The Titans have until Saturday to make a move to get McRath on the active roster. There will be an opening with rookie Derrick Morgan suffering a season-ending knee injury, though the Titans might have to do more roster tinkering given their low numbers on the defensive line, thanks to injuries.

Jamie Winborn has started four games in place of McRath.

McRath told TitanInsider last week that he expected to have to re-earn the starting spot and would be accepting if he had to start out on special teams to begin with.

“That's just how I operate. I feel like you earn everything you get in life, and that's something that when I come back, I'm trying to compete for a job. I feel like I have to make the team,” McRath told TitanInsider last week.

McRath, who worked out at D-1 in Franklin during the suspension, will work on Tuesday with Titans strength and conditioning coach Steve Watterson. Fisher offered no promises on how soon McRath would play, but chances are, if he is in top shape, he should be installed into the starting lineup this week, despite his own reservations.

“We’ll do some things, he’ll work himself right back in on the practice field.  We’ll have a role for him on special teams and we’ll get him involved in the defense—how much he’ll play I don’t know,” Fisher said. “Understandably he may be a little rusty, we have a roster exemption until Saturday to make that decision then we’ll have to make a move if we do in fact decide to move him up.”