The Tennessee Titans’ offensive line has been one of the quieter bright spots of camp, but the group still looks like it’s heading toward at least one notable adjustment.
A few names have stood out for the right reasons. JC Latham has been impressive at right tackle and, by all accounts, has added a tougher edge to his game. Peter Skoronski is looking the part of a high-end guard, and Fernando Carmona has climbed from rookie third-stringer to the first-team right guard spot on the strength of his physical play.
Not everyone has moved up with the unit, though. Cordell Volson has been one of the main fallers, and recent reporting has pointed to the right guard competition being so one-sided that Carmona may already have the job all but wrapped up, even if nothing is being declared officially until camp ends.
Another name drawing attention is Austin Deculus, whose run at the swing tackle job appears to be going badly enough that his stay in Tennessee may not last much longer. Easton Freeze said, “ The name at the center of this is Austin Deculus, the free agent addition the Titans brought in from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.
From the jump, it wasn’t entirely clear why Tennessee signed him. In his time here through the preseason and practices, the results have not been impressive by any means.
If Crenshaw-Dixon can prove himself as a viable swing tackle, that solves a problem cheaply with a young, cost-controlled player. If he can’t, the Titans really do need to do some shopping before the regular season.”
That line of thinking isn’t new around the team. Backup offensive tackle has already been identified as a spot the front office could still address, with multiple reports pointing in that direction and Jim Wyatt also writing about it on the team’s official website.
Volson’s exit would also affect the rest of the roster picture. It would likely help secure spots for both Pat Coogan and Jackson Slater. At swing tackle, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson is still going to get his chance to prove he can handle the job, but he may again end up on the edge of the roster, bouncing between the fourth tackle spot and the practice squad.
If the Titans decide they want a more established option there, Jack Conklin has been the name fans are pushing as the ideal swing tackle. And if that’s the route Tennessee chooses, it sounds like the team would want to move fast and clear that part of the roster quickly so a new addition can get up to speed before the regular season.
In Other News...
Titans Running Backs Just Got The Disrespect Fans Will Remember
The Titans backfield looks set up for another season built around Tony Pollard, with Tyjae Spears positioned as the primary insurance policy and rookie Nicholas Singleton giving Tennessee a third option in the room. It is a group that still carries some intrigue because of how the offense could lean on the ground game if the passing attack has a hard time finding consistency.
Still, Pro Football Focus preseason ranking landed the Titans running back room at 22nd, a label that will not sit well with a fan base that expects more from one of the leagues most important position groups. The number itself is only part of the story, because Tennessees backs are going to matter plenty if the offense needs them to shoulder a bigger load than the outside perception suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Roster Shakeup Puts Unexpected Focus On Their Defensive Depth
The Titans kept their roster moving this week, adding veteran defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler after recent workouts while also making a change at tight end by releasing Matt Lauter. The pair of defensive signings fits the kind of late-summer roster churn that often reveals where a team thinks it needs more insulation, especially when injuries and availability start to reshape the back end of the roster.
Nazeeh Johnsons move to injured reserve adds another wrinkle for Tennessee, coming shortly after he was suspended for six games for violating the NFLs Performance Enhancing Substances policy. With Johnson unavailable and the Titans bringing in players who have already bounced around the league, the emphasis now shifts to how much reliable depth they can build on defense before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Add Two Defenders As One New Arrival Suddenly Stands Out
With a joint practice against the Seahawks on deck and another game looming, the Titans are continuing to churn the bottom of the roster while trying to keep the defensive depth chart stable. Tennessee placed safety Nazeeh Johnson on Reserve/Injured after his six-game suspension for violating the NFLs Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, then opened the spot by releasing tight end Matt Lauter and bringing in defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler.
The two additions give the Titans some extra bodies on defense at a time when preseason reps matter, and Kpassagnon in particular is a name that immediately jumps off the page among the newcomers. With the roster still in flux this close to the Seattle week, the more interesting question is how quickly Tennessee can sort out which of these fresh faces is simply filling space and which one might force his way into a larger role. [Read more 🡒]
