Carnell Tate’s breakout against Baltimore gave the Titans a new wrinkle to lean on, and Week 5 offers a clean chance to keep pressing it.
The rookie was electric in Week 4, piling up nine catches for 145 yards even with the Ravens clearly keying on him. Tennessee had spent the early part of the season getting Tate open without giving him many chances to cash those looks in. Against Baltimore, the offense finally ran through him, and the result looked a lot like why the Titans valued him so highly in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What makes Tate more dangerous is that Tennessee has not used him as a static boundary-only receiver. He has been moved around the formation, and 26% of his snaps have come in the slot. His first catch against the Ravens came from that alignment and went for 22 yards.
That matters this week because Houston’s best corner, Derek Stingley Jr., does not follow receivers inside. He has one slot snap this season, which is the same number he has on the defensive line.
The Texans’ approach has not exactly been airtight, either. Last week, Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb ripped them for 17 receptions, 189 yards and a touchdown.
Not every one of Lamb’s catches came from the slot, but the Cowboys’ willingness to move him around limited Stingley’s impact. PFF credited Stingley with covering Lamb on just 5 of his 20 targets.
The Titans do not need to turn Tate into a full-time slot receiver to take advantage. Wan’Dale Robinson is already handling that job, and he leads the team in receiving touchdowns. But sprinkling Tate into the slot with pre-snap motion, or lining him up there a few times a game, can create the kind of matchup Tennessee wants.
There are other reasons the Titans are in position to build on this. The offensive line is playing strong football, and Cam Ward is settling in every week, especially when he goes to Tate. On the other side, the run defense has been excellent, and the pass defense is improving, even if the team still has to clean up its third-down issues.
If those trends keep moving in the same direction, Tennessee should keep getting better as the season unfolds. The growth is there, and small tactical shifts like moving Tate around against a defense that has struggled to cover the slot could be the kind of detail that turns a tight loss into a tight win.
And for Titans fans - plus owner Amy Adams Strunk - that would make sending the Texans back to Texas with an 0-5 record feel a whole lot sweeter.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A New Concern In Their Passing Game
The Titans passing game picked up a new wrinkle this week when Carnell Tate landed on the injury report with a back issue ahead of Sundays game against the Houston Texans. Tate had been a full participant on Wednesday before being limited on Thursday, a shift that stands out on a roster already dealing with multiple players showing up on the report with assorted injuries.
For Tennessee, the timing matters because Tate has become a meaningful part of the offense as the team tries to keep its attack steady against Houston. The Titans have been monitoring several health questions this week, and Tates status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a passing game that could use as much stability as it can get heading into a divisional matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Secondary Suddenly Has A Big Problem Before Texans Game
The Titans secondary took a hit heading into Sundays matchup with the Texans, with Amani Hooker unavailable after not clearing concussion protocol. Hooker has been a key part of Tennessees back end, so his absence changes the look of a group that already had to keep one eye on Houstons passing game this week.
Tony Adams is expected to step into Hookers role, while Isaiah Oliver is likely to be elevated from the practice squad to give the Titans more depth at safety. Cornerback Joshua Williams also returned to practice after being designated to come back from injured reserve, though his game status remains unsettled as Tennessee sorts through its defensive options. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Tough Tony Pollard Decision After 0-4 Start
The Titans 0-4 start has already pushed roster conversations toward the future, and Tony Pollard has quickly become one of the more interesting names to watch. Tennessees veteran running back is off to a strong start, which only adds to his value if general manager Mike Borgonzi decides the time is right to listen on a move.
Pollards situation is especially tricky because he is on an expiring deal, giving the Titans a classic deadline dilemma between keeping a productive player and taking advantage of his market. With the trade deadline approaching, the possibility of dealing him has naturally started to draw attention around the league, and it puts Tennessee in the middle of a decision that could say plenty about how it views the rest of this season. [Read more 🡒]