The preseason is supposed to be a proving ground, but for a handful of players, it has done the opposite. Instead of building momentum, they’ve left camp with more questions attached to their names than answers.
Some are young quarterbacks trying to make a leap. Others are veterans trying to hold onto a job, a role or a reputation.
The biggest concerns start with Cam Ward. The Titans’ starting units have struggled badly in preseason, and Ward has been right in the middle of it.
The 2025 No. 1 overall pick completed just over half of his passes for 126 yards in two games, and the slow start has come with the entire offense lagging under a new coaching staff. It matters even more because this is supposed to be a big year for Ward, who hopes to be the latest second-year quarterback to make a major jump.
Instead, both he and the offense look well behind schedule with the regular season approaching.
Tua Tagovailoa’s summer has taken a different kind of hit. He signed with the Falcons and appeared to have the inside track to the Week 1 starting job, especially with Michael Penix Jr. coming back from a torn ACL.
But now Penix seems to be the favorite in the competition, which says plenty about how far Tagovailoa’s stock has fallen. Even if Tagovailoa opens the season as the starter, the Falcons appear ready to turn to Penix at the first sign of trouble.
That could leave Tagovailoa headed for a backup future if things go sideways.
The wide receiver group also has a name that’s been trending the wrong way: Isaac Teslaa. Last year, he was one of the bright spots of training camp as a rookie for the Lions and looked like an important piece of the offense going forward.
This August has been the opposite. Teslaa has played in each of the first two preseason games and still hasn’t recorded a catch.
That’s a rough look, and it has raised real questions about how committed Detroit still is to him. Only three wide receivers have run 25-plus routes this preseason and finished with zero receptions: Quez Watkins, JaQuae Jackson and Isaac TeSlaa.
Eli Stowers was supposed to bring some youth to the Eagles’ offense after Philadelphia took him in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, his summer has reportedly been a struggle.
Jimmy Kempski called him “unplayable” at the moment, and the numbers haven’t helped his case: three catches for 12 yards in the first two preseason games. The Eagles aren’t going to give up on a rookie this early, but they clearly expected more from him by now.
Keisean Nixon enters the season in a different kind of pressure cooker. After making his first Pro Bowl in 2025, he expected to be a locked-in starter.
Instead, he’s been pushed into a competition for playing time in the secondary. Nixon has described the situation bluntly, saying: “I guess I’m being punished right now, I guess, I don’t know.
I don’t really worry about what I’m running in camp, the ones and twos, I just keep my process and…” The camp has been uneven, and while he should still get a chance to start, the margin for error looks thinner now. With a contract year ahead, the stakes are obvious before he reaches the open market next spring.
Cor’Dale Flott may have the most expensive leash of the bunch, but he’s still on the list for a reason. The Titans gave him a three-year, $45 million deal in the offseason, expecting him to be part of a revamped defense.
So far, he hasn’t looked the part. He has struggled in practices and games as he adjusts to his new surroundings, and while the contract gives him some built-in patience once the season starts, he still has to show he was worth the investment.
Among Tennessee’s preseason issues, Flott has been one of the biggest.
In Other News...
Titans Just Unveiled A New Look Fans Can Rally Around
The NFLs final wave of rivalry uniforms brought Tennessee a fresh piece of branding to hang onto, and the Titans now know what their new Music City look will be. Built around a Titans Blue helmet, a script logo reading Music City, neon-inspired numbers and a 6-string stripe down the pants, the uniform is meant to lean into the citys identity while giving the team another distinct option in its closet.
Fans will not have to wait long to see it, either. The Titans are scheduled to wear the uniform once in the 2026 season, on Nov. 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it will stay in the rotation for three seasons. For a team always looking for ways to sharpen its image and give its home market something recognizable, this one arrives with a little more style than the average alternate jersey. [Read more 🡒]
Wan'Dale Robinson Injury Scare Drew A Blunt Titans Response
During a joint practice with the Bears, the Titans got a brief scare when wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson left the field to be evaluated for a concussion after taking a hit from a Chicago player. It was the kind of moment that can quickly change the temperature of a practice, especially in a setting where both teams are trying to get work in without losing a key player to something avoidable.
Titans coach Robert Saleh did not hide his feelings about the play, calling the hit cheap. There was no reported scuffle afterward, but the reaction underscored how little patience Tennessee had for a shot that sent Robinson straight into the protocol conversation and put an otherwise routine joint session in an uncomfortable spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Have A Growing Concern Behind JC Latham And Dan Moore Jr
The Titans offensive line picture is getting clearer at the top, but the depth behind JC Latham and Dan Moore Jr. is still a real point of attention as roster cuts approach. Swing tackle has become one of the more competitive spots on the roster, and undrafted rookie Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson has given the staff a reason to keep a close eye on him after making a strong push in camp and the preseason.
Austin Deculus, meanwhile, has not separated himself in the same way and has dealt with a tougher run through the summer. With the 53-man deadline looming, Tennessee could still look for help after cuts or even via trade if it wants more certainty at a spot that can turn urgent quickly once injuries hit. [Read more 🡒]