The Tennessee Titans got a scare Thursday in Nashville when Wan'Dale Robinson had to leave their joint practice with the Chicago Bears early, but the early concern appears to have eased.
Robinson was shaken up after taking a hard hit from Bears safety and former Titan Xavier Woods during team drills. Per A to Z Sports, center Austin Schlottmann and guard Peter Skoronski immediately stepped in to defend Robinson, and head coach Robert Saleh later described the play from Woods as cheap in his post-practice press conference.
Saleh also told the media that Robinson would be evaluated for a concussion, but Friday brought a much better update for Tennessee. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Robinson isn’t believed to have a concussion, though the team will keep monitoring him. That makes it unlikely he’ll play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Bears, but the bigger picture is what matters: this does not sound like a long-term issue.
That’s a relief for the Titans, because Robinson is a key piece of their revamped offense. The 25-year-old has topped 90 catches in each of the last two seasons, and he already knows offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s system well after spending multiple years with the New York Giants.
The update also matters plenty for Cam Ward. Through camp, the second-year quarterback has leaned on Robinson as a safety valve, and losing that connection for any stretch would have been a problem. Rookie Carnell Tate may bring more explosiveness, but Robinson’s route-running and experience have kept him as Tennessee’s top receiving option for now.
With the season opener getting closer, Robinson avoiding a concussion is about as good a result as the Titans could have hoped for. Tennessee needs him healthy and ready when the games start to count.
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Tillman was a third-round pick in 2022 and had returned to camp after an injury, but Cleveland still chose to release him rather than keep him in the mix. For Tennessee, the question is whether there is enough upside there to justify a look, especially with a roster spot and a potential depth need in play. No move has been reported yet, but it is the sort of decision the Titans could revisit quickly if they want to add another receiver with some developmental appeal. [Read more 🡒]
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Tate also comes into the matchup with a personal twist, since he and his father have long been Bears fans. Even with his son now wearing Titans colors, Tates father said he will still be backing Chicago in the preseason meeting, which adds a small but noticeable layer of split loyalties to an otherwise routine August game. [Read more 🡒]
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Hills recent preseason work has included impactful moments, which is exactly the sort of production that can force a depth-chart conversation before the games start to count. Tennessee still has time to sort out how it wants to use its linebacker group, but the contrast is now clear enough: experience is holding the current projection in place, while youthful playmaking is pushing to crack it open. [Read more 🡒]