The Tennessee Titans are nearing the end of camp with a roster that still has plenty of moving parts, but a couple of the biggest competitions are starting to come into focus. Head coach Robert Saleh and his staff have kept things close to the vest, which has left real uncertainty about how the depth chart will look when Week 1 arrives. Even so, training camp has already started to separate the contenders from the rest in a few spots.
The clearest momentum belongs to Mitchell Trubisky at backup quarterback. Tennessee brought him in this offseason to battle former second-round pick Will Levis for the No. 2 job, but camp has tilted heavily in Trubisky’s favor. Levis has continued to battle accuracy problems throughout the summer, and unless the Titans decide to carry three quarterbacks - a less common approach around the league - he likely won’t make the 53-man roster.
Tight end also appears to be settling down. Brian Daboll’s familiarity with Daniel Bellinger made that competition worth watching early, but Gunnar Helm has moved into the lead and now looks like Tennessee’s starter.
Helm has become a dependable option over the middle for Cam Ward. Both Helm and Bellinger should have roles, especially with Daboll’s New York Giants having used 12 personnel - one running back and two tight ends - at a top-ten rate last season.
Still, Helm has the edge where it matters most.
The wide receiver picture is much less defined. Rookie Carnell Tate and offseason addition Wan’Dale Robinson are locked in as starters, but after that, the order is still being sorted out.
Calvin Ridley and Elic Ayomanor are battling for the second starting spot on the outside, and Jim Wyatt described Ayomanor as “one of the biggest stars of camp.” Ayomanor also dealt with an injury late in camp before bouncing back quickly.
At the bottom of the group, Xavier Restrepo and Bryce Oliver are competing for one of the final spots on the 53-man roster.
Inside linebacker has become another intriguing fight. Rookie Anthony Hill has surged during camp and is pressing Cody Barton for the starting job at off-ball linebacker. Hill looks like a natural fit in Saleh’s defense and appears to have the upper hand right now, even if Barton’s experience is keeping the battle alive.
The offensive line still has unresolved business as well, and center may be the most competitive of the bunch. Saleh recently said he is “not close” to deciding the starting spots up front, per Jim Wyatt.
Right guard could be part of that conversation too, with Cordell Volson and Jackson Slater battling there, but center stands out. Austin Schlottman is currently in front, though rookie Pat Coogan has a real chance to move ahead of him if he has a strong preseason.
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Titans Rookies Are Already Creating A Real Playing Time Debate
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Carnell Tate, Keldric Faulk and Anthony Hill Jr. have shown enough promise to keep their names in the mix, while Nicholas Singleton and Jackie Marshall are still fighting to carve out meaningful roles. For a team trying to balance development with immediate competition, those early performances are starting to turn routine camp work into a real debate over playing time. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Have A Real Offensive Line Battle Brewing In Camp
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Ayomanors rookie season gave Tennessee a real glimpse of what he can do, even if the role around him is about to get more crowded. The Titans will spend camp sorting through the pecking order, and Ayomanor is now in the middle of a battle that could shape how their offense looks in Year 2. If he can build on what he showed as a rookie, Tennessee may have a tougher decision on its hands than it expected. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Real Cody Barton Decision To Make
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Barton still carries some value because he is a veteran with a track record, but his fit is now being weighed against the clubs younger options and the way the new scheme wants the position played. A trade would be one path if Tennessee decides to move on, and a release would be another, but for now the Titans are simply staring at a real roster-choice situation and waiting to see how the rest of the summer changes the picture. [Read more 🡒]