Titans sign linemen Jasper, Palmer

The Tennessee Titans have signed a pair of offensive linemen to help bolster the numbers there, including guard Michael Jasper, who played high school football at Mt. Juliet.

The Titans also agreed to a deal with tackle Jonathan Palmer.
Jasper, 6-4, 375 pounds, bounced around the state of Tennessee in college, playing at UT-Martin, spending some time at MTSU and winding up at Bethel. He was a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills last year, but was released earlier this week.

“From what I saw, he moved well. He played in the game last week in Buffalo. Of the guys we brought in, I thought he was the best of the inside guys,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “It's one of those things where you kind of see where he's at and maybe get lucky with a guy. He played d-line and they switched him over to offensive line. A guy that's that big that can move pretty good, they're interesting to see how they do.”

Jasper could have a chance to stick on the Titans practice squad if he makes an impression, as the club apparently sees him as a developmental prospect.

“You're thinking about practice squad and things like that. We're not waiting till camp ends to decide what to do. We're keeping track of everyone that's available,” Munchak said.

Palmer has been well traveled around the league with practice squad stops with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Arizona and Carolina.

The Titans have been down an offensive lineman since center Eugene Amano was lost for the year with a triceps tear in his right arm. On Thursday night, backup tackle Mike Otto suffered a dislocated ring finger on his right hand that could keep him out of action for a couple of weeks or so as well.

Because of swelling it is not known yet if Otto would require surgery to have a pin placed in the hand, or just need a cast put on it for it to heal.

“I think we're just kind of taking it day to day and talk to the doctor,” said Otto, who had a splint on the finger and had a bag over that to keep the split from getting it wet. “It was just kind of sticking sideways.”