James Proche is a special teamer who is suddenly flashing as a pass catcher.
Bryce Oliver is a pass catcher who has flashed on special teams.
The ability of each player to produce in both departments will be key to his chances of making the Titans’ 53-man roster.
Almost two weeks into training camp, it appears five receivers have locked down roster spots: Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson have been getting most of the first-team reps in practice, while rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor represent the future.
The sixth — and potentially — seventh roster spots feature plenty of competition, but Oliver and Proche appear ahead of their peers leading up to the Titans’ first preseason game Saturday in Tampa Bay.
Proche, 28, has been the more surprising receiver of the two so far in training camp, if only because expectations for him were more centered around his previous work as a punt returner than as a pass catcher.
He’d returned 68 punts over the past five seasons for an average of 8.7 yards, including 41 for Cleveland over the last two years for an average of 9.0 yards.
During those same five seasons, Proche had caught only 28 passes, and he’d been on the receiving end of a combined three passes over the past two years with the Browns.
But the 5-11, 193-pound Dallas native has opened some eyes since signing a one-year deal with the Titans in March.
In a recent camp practice, Proche posted four catches on as many targets, a reception total that included a quick play-action toss from Cam Ward in the first team series of the day, a deep shot down the left sideline from Brandon Allen, and two more sideline connections with Allen.
“He’s really had a nice camp,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “He’s made plays. He’s consistently made plays, which I think is the more important part, and he’s making a case for himself.
“He’s got some special teams ability, but he’s really shown up offensively. He’s made catches every day. He got himself open, the ball has found him, and it’s been really good to see.”
Added Proche: “Whatever opportunities they give me, just take full advantage of them and just have fun, bro. We’re playing a child’s game for a king’s ransom. So I just try to keep a childlike joy in whatever I do, and the rest is going to be the rest.”
Proche is the most experienced (on the NFL level) of the Titans’ punt-return candidates, a group that includes Dike, Tyjae Sharpe, Jha’Quan Jackson, Xavier Restrepo and TJ Sheffield.
But if he can continue to make an impact in the passing game, Proche will only increase his odds of securing a roster spot.
“[I’ve been able to show the Titans] my versatility, playing inside or out, my catching ability,” Proche said.
“I feel like I got a pretty high catch percentage this training camp. Also my knowledge of the playbook — able to conceptualize things, reading coverages and just being ready for the opportunity. That’s all I can do.”
The 25-year-old Oliver, meanwhile, had a productive receiving background at FCS member Youngstown State, catching a combined 123 passes for 1,799 yards (14.6-yard average) and 18 touchdowns over his last two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
He also made a splash late last season as a Titans rookie, catching six passes (on nine targets) for 95 yards (15.8-yard average) and four first downs — in just 67 offensive snaps.
But Oliver, a powerfully built 6-1 and 214 pounds, really increased his value with strong special teams play in 2024. Used on 37 coverage snaps — mostly as a gunner on punt coverage — Oliver made five tackles, earning the Titans’ top Pro Football Focus special-teams grade (84.7).
“He’s been fantastic,” new Titans special teams coordinator John Fassel said of Oliver’s play during the offseason and camp. “We watched a little bit of him, the second half of last year, and we were very aware of his performance and even potential as a gunner.
“But 1754334610 we’re challenging him at different spots, too. We’re challenging him to play on kickoff cover, kickoff return as a blocker, kick return as the actual returner. I think his body type, his mindset, his physical skills say, ‘Hey, this is a screamin’ special teams guy.’”
Oliver even elicited a comparison to one of the NFL’s all-time great special teams players, former New England Patriots wide receiver Matt Slater, who played 16 seasons in the league and earned 10 special teams Pro Bowl selections.
“When you can get a wideout like [Oliver], like Matt Slater … that can compete with running backs and tight ends and linebackers and safeties, then you’ve got like a bonus guy on game day,” Fassel said. “I anticipate [Oliver] hopefully being that.”