NASHVILLE – Jarvis Brownlee Jr. ended OTAs with a bang on Tuesday.
Just four plays into a 7-on-7 period, the rookie cornerback stepped in front of a pass thrown by quarterback Will Levis, and he picked it off.
Brownlee's defensive teammates celebrated as he raced the other way, capping off the biggest play of his offseason so far.
Brownlee, however, wasn't able to celebrate long.
Later in the period, he found himself on the ground doing push-ups after getting beat for a touchdown by receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who tossed the ball toward him as a reminder of the play he'd just given up.
"It's always about that short-term memory," Brownlee with a slight smile. "Just because I made a play doesn't mean I can give up the next one, or I can slack on the next play. For me, it's just working on that consistency and making sure I am keeping my technique the same and staying into it. And just knowing I have to have better eyes – that's why I got beat on that play. … It's about consistency and staying into it."
The Titans drafted Brownlee in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
A 5-foot-10, 194-pounder, Brownlee played his last two college seasons at Louisville after playing his first three seasons at Florida State. Brownlee played in 48 career college games, with 37 starts, and he tallied 174 tackles, six interceptions, and 7.5 tackles for a loss.
His first few months on the job have been a learning experience.
"He's a rookie, and that sums it up," Titans secondary coach Steve Jackson said of Brownlee. "This is new to him, what is expected of him. He is continuing to progress."
Brownlee, who played in 11 games, with nine starts, at Louisville in 2023, when he totaled 30 tackles, and an interception, admits it hasn't been easy.
"At first, I came out here, and had a lot to learn. I was still struggling with simple things," Brownlee said. "But as the days have gone on, I started getting better. I started getting in my playbook more, I started asking getting comfortable, asking more questions. And for me, my confidence is way up from when I came out here day one. I feel great, and I am finally getting my swagger back. I feel good."
Brownlee said he's picked the brains of the veterans in the room, from L'Jarius Sneed to Chidobe Awuzie to Roger McCreary, and he said he's learned a ton from them.
"Guys like Chido and Sneed, man," Brownlee said, "those are guys that I watched before I got into this league. So for me to be on the same team as those guys, it is a dream come true and I am grateful to have those two. I just try and take up all the knowledge that they can give me, and it's been helping me with my game. I have been learning a lot when it comes to formations and releases that I am getting, and those guys have been helping a lot with that."
Brownlee said he knows now he's on his own during the break until training camp.
Players will head their separate ways on Wednesday as the offseason program is now over, and they're not scheduled to report to training camp until July 23, with the first practice scheduled for July 24.
Brownlee vowed to be ready.
"I'm grinding," he said. "I'm grinding from here on out, that's the main thing. My goal is to come back in as great of shape as I've ever been in for training camp. And come with a chip on my shoulder and play with that edge, and have that confidence, that energy. I just (want to) be the best version of myself."
