NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The thrill is gone for Titans nose tackle Sammie Hill, at least for now.
Sidelined at the start of training camp because of a sprained knee he suffered in offseason workouts, Hill isn't enjoying life as a spectator. Yes, it's hot outside, but he's hardly looking to take it easy by the air conditioner while his teammates are working.
"I want to be in camp,'' Hill said. "You complain about being out in the hot sun and things like that, but I don't ever want to be in that training room. Guys are out there fighting for jobs and fighting for a living, and I want to be out there fighting with them. I never want to be inside a training room."
Hill began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
He suffered the knee injury in the offseason, and has spent the last few months recovering. Hill estimated he's a few weeks away from returning, and he's even expressed frustration to coach Ken Whisenhunt about his current situation.
"He said, "I can't take it any more','' Whisenhunt said of Hill. "We'll see how it progresses. I'd like to think that in the first couple of weeks he'll be back. He wants to be back here. This is more about protecting him than anything else."
Hill, who started 15 games last season and finished with 47 tackles and three sacks, is expected to be a key player in the middle for the Titans this fall.
When he returns to the field, he plans to make up for lost time.
