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As initially reported by the Associated Press, Titans tight end Ben Troupe will have surgery on his left foot after an orthopedist determined Thursday he had damage that need to be repaired.

Dr. Robert Anderson examined Troupe in Charlotte, N.C., and said the second-year player had an injury to his fifth metatarsal bone. Troupe is expected to be ready for the start of the season in September.

"The timetable is up in the air," head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. "But. ... He's not going to miss any time during the regular season."

Troupe was third in receptions for the Titans in his rookie season with 33 catches for 329 yards, and he is one of only two veteran tight ends on the roster.

The Titans have developed a relationship in recent years with Anderson, the team orthopedist for the Carolina Panthers. The doctor performed similar operations on defensive ends Jevon Kearse (2002) and Bo Schobel (2004).

Anderson also has performed specialized procedures on cornerback Andre Woolfolk and former running back Eddie George.

Because Troupe will be out for an extended period, the Titans must make some personnel moves. Currently, there are only three healthy tight ends on the team -- Erron Kinney the most notable of them.

"We're going to need to get some help at the June camp," Fisher said of six workouts between June 14 and 23. "Then going into training camp, we're definitely going to need some help."

As Nashville Tennessean staffer Jim Wyatt noted earlier this week, Troupe started slowly last season. He was inactive for two of the first three games and had just five catches in the first six games combined.

By the end of the season, however, he ended up with more receptions (33) and more yards (329) than any Oilers/Titans rookie tight end since Chris Dressell had 32 catches for 316 yards in 1983.

Chris Cooley of the Redskins was the only rookie tight end last season with more catches (37) than Troupe.

According to Wyatt, in new offensive coordinator Norm Chow's offense, the tight end is expected to get more opportunities than under Heimerdinger. Last season tight ends -- Troupe, Kinney and Shad Meier -- combined for 83 catches.

This fall, coaches plan to move Troupe around in order to create favorable matchups, and tight ends are expected to be sent in motion more often and do more shifting prior to the snap.

It's worth noting that Troupe spent the offseason in Nashville working out in the team's conditioning program. He finished last season at 255 pounds and estimates he now weighs around 265-270. He expected to shed some pounds during training camp, but he didn't think the added strength will abandon him.

Let's hope he gets a chance to prove that theory out this fall.