Titans' Marcus Mariota practicing without knee brace among 5 observations from workouts

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota practiced Tuesday without the brace he’s worn on his left knee since spraining the joint during his rookie season.

But he wouldn’t commit to discarding the added protection longterm.

“We’ll see. It might be a different story when the pads are on,” Mariota said after the second day of organized team activities, “but for now, yeah, I feel comfortable, I feel good. The whole knee brace, it felt restricting, but at the same time I have to be smart and try to be safe out there. We’ll see. I’m not sure. I haven’t made that decision yet.”

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Mariota is clearly working out the kinks with his receivers, which is to be expected at this early stage of the offseason.

The voluntary offseason practices continue for three weeks.

Conklin on field four months after torn ACL

Right tackle Jack Conklin isn’t expected to participate in the team’s organized team activities this spring, coach Mike Vrabel said, as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the divisional playoff loss on Jan. 13 at New England.

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But Conklin was on the field Tuesday during a voluntary practice open to reporters. He did not wear a helmet, but was engaged with his teammates and the coaching staff and had no discernible limp.

“He can hear the snap count, he can see what’s going on and he can understand what the offense looks like, as opposed to watching it on film,” Vrabel said, explaining the benefits of having Conklin on the field.

Conklin, the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft, was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie. He started every game in his first two seasons. It’s unclear whether he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.

“Really, he’s just working to get back and get healthy,” Vrabel said. “We know what happened and what surgery he had, so when he’s able to be out there and he gets cleared medically, we’ll start his return to play. … I don’t know what the timetable on Jack is. I wouldn’t anticipate seeing him out there this spring though.”

Tajae Sharpe back to work

Sharpe, who missed last season with a stress fracture in his foot, is back on the field and looks good. He routinely demonstrated the ability to cut after making the catch, at one point eluding the grasp of undrafted rookie Damon Webb.

Sharpe, a fifth-round draft pick in 2016, started 10 games his rookie season. He had 41 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’re all starting with clean slates,” Sharpe said. “The new coaching staff, they weren’t with us last year, so we all just have to prove ourselves. We just want to come back out here and compete and get one percent better every day and just keep working.”

Rishard Matthews has minor injury

Matthews was a limited participant and is dealing with a minor injury and being held out for precautionary reasons, according to an NFL source.

Vrabel would not disclose the reason Matthews was limited and said they hope to work him back into full practice as these three weeks of organized team activities progress. Matthews declined to talk.

Matthews remains Mariota’s top target and is the only veteran among the team’s top four wide receivers. He’s entering the final year of his contract.

Derrick Morgan picks up fumble by Derrick Henry

Derrick Morgan was the only starting outside linebacker on the field Tuesday, and made his biggest play by picking up a loose ball after Derrick Henry bobbled a handoff from Mariota.

Morgan, entering his ninth season in the league, is in the final year of his contract, as is fellow starting outside linebacker Brian Orakpo. He was asked about the addition of second-round pick Harold Landry, and maintaining his grip on a starting job.

“It’s just part of it every year. They’re always looking to replace you,” Morgan said. “It’s just the nature of the business. But I think I’m in competition with myself, trying to be the best that I can be as a player, and so that’s just part of it.”

Those absent from voluntary workouts Tuesday included outside linebackers Orakpo and Kevin Dodd, tight end Phillip Supernaw, safety Kendrick Lewis and wide receiver Nick Williams.

Reach Jason Wolf at jwolf@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter at @JasonWolf and on Instagram and Snapchat at TitansBeat.

Titans offseason schedule

Organized team activities: Thursday, May 29-30, June 1, 4-7

Mandatory minicamp: June 12-14