Robert Saleh did not dance around the issue.
Heading into Week 6 against the Colts in Indianapolis, the Titans head coach made it plain that his two starting cornerbacks have to give him more, because right now the production simply isn’t there. Through five games, neither Alontae Taylor nor Cor’Dale Flott has a pass breakup, a stunning number in a league where cornerbacks are expected to make life miserable on the ball.
“We need more out of both corners. I don’t think we’ve had a PBU yet”
That absence of plays on the football is only part of the problem. The Titans’ secondary has been getting exposed, and the pressure up front has not been there to help cover things up. Tennessee has only 10 sacks in five games, a total that places the defensive front in the bottom 10 in the league entering Week 6.
The numbers on Taylor and Flott are hard to ignore. The pair has been targeted 35 times and allowed 28 completions, an 80 percent rate. For two starting cornerbacks, that is the kind of efficiency that swings games in the wrong direction fast.
Saleh also pointed directly at Taylor, saying the corner has shown some growth but that Sunday was not his best outing, “and that's putting it nicely.”
That scrutiny comes with the territory, especially considering what the Titans have invested in the position. Taylor and Flott each had 11 pass breakups last season with different teams, and the Titans handed them a combined $74 million in guaranteed money to come in and be better than they have been so far.
Taylor’s background adds another layer to the discussion. He is much more of a slot corner by trade, and whether Tennessee keeps leaning on him outside is a real question.
That said, the team may not have the alternative ready right now. Marcus Harris has been one of the younger players holding up well in the Titans’ secondary, which makes any major shuffle a tougher call.
For now, the answer is straightforward: Taylor and Flott have to start making plays. There is still time for both to settle into the scheme and find their footing with new teammates in a new city, but the bar for improvement is clear. Against Daniel Jones and the Colts, the Titans are looking for more aggression and more production from the corners they paid to deliver it.
In Other News...
Tyjae Spears Is Putting His Titans Future In Serious Doubt
Tyjae Spears has stayed on the field through the Titans first five games this season, but the broader picture around him remains murky. After battling injuries and putting together only modest production as both a runner and receiver, Spears has not done enough to settle the long-term conversation, especially with Tennessee expected to overhaul its backfield next offseason.
The contract situation only adds to the uncertainty. Spears is in the final year of his deal in 2026, Tony Pollard is also headed toward free agency, and rookie Nicholas Singleton has yet to prove he can be the answer for the future. For a Titans team trying to sort out its running back room, Spears is still part of the discussion, but he may also be one of the names that comes up if the front office decides to make bigger changes. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Need Answers On Their Young Core Before This Season Slips Away
With a Week 6 division game against the Colts looming, the Titans are still in full evaluation mode as the losses pile up and the season starts to feel like one long audition. For a team sitting at the bottom of the AFC South, the focus has shifted to the young core, with quarterback Cam Ward, receiver Carnell Tate and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. all under the microscope as Tennessee tries to learn what it actually has.
Wards growth remains the most important piece, because the Titans cant move forward without clarity at quarterback, but the front office and coaching staff need answers across the roster too. Tate has shown enough to merit a closer look in the passing game, and Hill has become part of the defensive evaluation as well, which makes this stretch more about development than the standings. The problem is simple: if those young players do not keep trending the right way, Tennessee could run out of time before it figures out how to build the next version of this team. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Brutal Week 6 Protection Question Against Houston
Liam Coens latest offensive line shuffle adds another layer of uncertainty to a Jaguars attack that has already had to keep adjusting on the fly. Walker Little is moving in at left tackle for Week 6 after Anton Harrison was set for knee surgery, a change that puts a premium on protection and communication just as Jacksonville heads into a matchup where the Texans front and overall defensive flexibility can make every snap feel a little longer.
Houston, meanwhile, keeps working through its own personnel moves, with DeMeco Ryans talking through the integration of Marvin Harrison Jr. after the receiver arrived from Arizona and rejoined C.J. Stroud. The Texans also got a small dose of good news on Jalen Pitre, who avoided surgery after an AC joint sprain, while Tank Dell was designated to return from injured reserve, leaving a lot of moving parts for a division game that could easily turn on who handles the trench and timing questions better. [Read more 🡒]