Robert Saleh didn’t spend much time sugarcoating Tennessee’s season opener.
After the Titans were beaten 23-10 by the Jets in Nashville, Saleh addressed a game that was controlled almost from the opening whistle by his old team. The score told the story, but the way New York handled the afternoon made it worse for Tennessee: the Jets ran the ball for 152 yards, scored both of their touchdowns on the ground, and never really let the Titans find a foothold.
Asked about Tennessee’s “lifeless” performance, Saleh pushed back on the word while still admitting he wanted more.
"I don't know if "lifeless" is the word," Saleh began, "but expected a better performance for sure."
That was the tone throughout his postgame session. Tennessee spent the offseason reshaping the roster, but Sunday’s result looked nothing like a team that had settled in. Saleh said the defensive line rotation was unlikely to change after the uneven showing, then gave New York credit for staying patient and working the run game over and over again.
"They weren't getting explosive runs, they were leaning on us for three, four, five yards a pop. To Frank [Reich's] credit, they stuck to the run... they leaned on us."
The Titans’ issues weren’t limited to stopping the Jets on the ground. Saleh was also asked about Cam Ward’s struggles, and he didn’t dodge the point. Ward missed several throws, including one to Carnell Tate over the middle and another sequence in which an open Calvin Ridley was left waiting before the ball sailed out of bounds.
"He missed a couple."
"He's gotta make those throws," Saleh went on. Ward finished 19-of-32 for 140 yards, with his lone touchdown coming late in the fourth quarter to Elic Ayomanor after the game was already decided.
Saleh tried to keep the big picture in view, even while acknowledging the frustration in the building.
"We'll get there," Saleh said of the in-progress state of this Titans team. "I get it, it wasn't good enough. But we have to find a way to get better, and we will."
He added that he believes "everyone is frustrated."
It is only one game, and Saleh is still at the start of his time in Nashville. But the calendar is already unforgiving.
The Eagles and Jalen Hurts come to town in Week 2, and after that the Titans head to New York to face the Giants. After a loss like this, Tennessee needs a quick response.
In Other News...
Titans Already Face Early Heat After This Lifeless Home Opener
The Titans home opener turned into an ugly reset in front of a restless crowd, with the Jets leaving Nashville with a 23-10 win and a clear sense of momentum under first-year coach Aaron Glenn. It also marked a notable step forward for New York, which picked up its first winning record since early 2024 behind a steady debut from Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich, plus solid work from Geno Smith and Breece Hall.
For Tennessee, the louder story was the reaction inside the building. The home crowd booed as the Titans sputtered through a flat afternoon, a sign of how quickly the early-season pressure can build when a game slips away at home. The schedule does not ease up from here, either, with Philadelphia next on the slate and little time for Tennessee to let this one linger. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Still Have One Big Problem Despite Staying Within Reach
At halftime against the Jets, the Titans were still hanging around, but the reasons for the gap on the scoreboard looked familiar. A short catch by rookie Carnell Tate gave him his first reception of the season, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was busy again with nine tackles, and Chimere Dike managed a grab after putting the ball on the ground on a kick return. Tennessee had enough individual flashes to stay within striking distance, even while the offense continued searching for steadier answers.
The bigger concern was on the other side of the ball, where Alontae Taylor had a rough stretch in coverage and was flagged for pass interference. For a team trying to keep games close and create opportunities late, that kind of breakdown is costly because it erases the work done elsewhere. The Titans were still alive at the break, but the defensive margin for error already looked thin. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Opener Starts With One Roster Concern Fans Will Notice
The regular-season opener brings the usual first-week intrigue, and for Tennessee, the pregame inactive list already adds a little texture to the buildup. The Titans will be without linebacker Cedric Gray, who is in concussion protocol, while several other depth pieces also will not dress as the roster gets trimmed down to game-day availability.
On the other side, the Jets will arrive short-handed as well, with five players inactive, including edge rusher Joseph Ossai and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds. For the Titans, the bigger issue is less about the full list and more about how they absorb Gray's absence on defense as the season starts with a few moving parts already in play. [Read more 🡒]