One week into training camp, Robert Saleh’s impact is already showing up around the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans still have questions to answer before camp is over, but one thing is beginning to feel a lot clearer: this defense has a real chance to look far better in 2026. Tennessee has upgraded the roster around Jeffery Simmons, and it also brought in more help at the top with Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
That reputation isn’t just local buzz, either. Zachary Pereles and the CBS Sports staff recently ranked the NFL’s defensive playcallers, and Saleh landed firmly in the top 10.
He came in at No. 6 overall.
The CBS Sports ranking gave Saleh 49 points, with a highest ranking of 2 and a lowest ranking of 10. The writeup pointed to his return to a top job after a second stint as the 49ers defensive coordinator. It also noted that his first run as a head coach with the Jets did not go well, but suggested he may be in a better spot to succeed in Tennessee.
CBS Sports also credited Saleh for what he managed in San Francisco in 2025, when injuries piled up but the defense still held together. That, per the ranking, showed “perseverance, ingenuity and adjusting on the fly.”
Back at Titans camp, the defense has had its share of uneven moments, but the signs are there. The roster looks better, the group is playing with more physicality, and each practice seems to bring a little more comfort with the scheme.
The sense around the team is straightforward: the defense should be better in 2026. The only real debate is by how much.
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Will Levis Just Gave Titans Fans Another Reason To Worry
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For Tennessee, the concern is less about one misplaced step than the larger picture around Levis. He is currently third on the depth chart behind Cam Ward and Mitch Trubisky, and every miscue only adds to the sense that his path back into the mix is getting steeper. Levis has already dealt with plenty away from the field as well, after a private video tied to him was leaked in 2024 and an investigation later found he had been hacked by criminals, according to his mother Beth Levis. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Surprise Is Forcing A Bigger WR Question
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The larger issue is bigger than one receiver. Tennessee is still trying to give its quarterback and offensive line enough stability to let the new system breathe, and a camp surprise like Ayomanor only sharpens the questions about who will actually be on the field when the season opens. He has already handled one brief scare in practice and returned to the encouraging side of the ledger, but the real test is whether the early buzz can last long enough to force the Titans to make a harder decision than they probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Take A Serious Look At A Pressure Spot Fans Know Too Well
The Titans took a familiar step this week by bringing in a group of free agent specialists for a tryout, a clear sign that the club is at least checking on every possible answer at a position that can turn uncomfortable in a hurry. Among the kickers available was Younghoe Koo, whose recent pro path has included a series of contract moves and team stops before landing back in the conversation as a veteran option.
Tennessees workout also drew kickers John Hoyland and John Parker Romo, punters Aidan Laros and Cole Maynard, and long snappers Garrison Grimes and Marco Ortiz. Koos 2025 season with the Falcons and Giants was uneven by his standards, but the bigger takeaway for the Titans is simple enough: they are looking closely at the specialists market, and when a team does that, it usually means the evaluation process is only getting started. [Read more 🡒]