Titans sign C/G Hroniss Grasu; waive RB Dalyn Dawkins

The Titans made a roster move today, signing center/guard Hroniss Grasu while waiving running back Dalyn Dawkins to make room.

Grasu was in training camp with the team, but failed to make the initial 53-man roster. There haven’t been any reports of new injuries to the interior offensive line from the Titans game in Cleveland so I find this signing to be a bit strange despite the fact that Grasu played well during preseason action (even if it was mostly against third teamers). Tennessee now has a whopping ten offensive linemen on the active roster — Dennis Kelly, Rodger Saffold, Ben Jones, Jamil Douglas, Jack Conklin, Kevin Pamphile, Nate Davis, David Quessenberry, Aaron Stinnie, and Grasu — not including the suspended Taylor Lewan.

That’s a huge number to carry at that spot and it makes me wonder if either Pamphile’s injury is expected to drag on a little longer. Mike Vrabel hinted that the Titans might choose to keep Jamil Douglas in as the starter at right guard after his solid performance in Week 1 anyway so perhaps this is simply making sure there is a backup center in place since Douglas had been expected to serve in that capacity before being forced into a starting role. It doesn’t seem as if the team expects Nate Davis to be ready to contribute in the near future so for now it appears Grasu will serve as the backup center, Stinnie the backup guard, and Quessenberry the backup tackle, at least until Pamphile gets healthy and Lewan returns from suspension.

Dawkins is likely to pass through waivers and could be added back on the practice squad where he spent most of last season, though the Titans would have to release one of the ten current members to make room.