The Tennessee Titans are finally set to open their season on Sunday against the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium, and the conversation around this team is already centered on two parts of the defense that could define what happens next.
ESPN’s Turron Devenport pointed to the front seven as Tennessee’s biggest strength heading into 2026. That group starts with Jeffery Simmons, who remains the team’s most impactful player, and now has a real partner in John Franklin-Myers.
Jermaine Johnson II is also in the mix, rejoining new head coach Robert Saleh after the two were together with the Jets, when Johnson posted a career-high 7.5 sacks. At linebacker, Cedric Gray is drawing attention as a budding star, while first-round pick Keldric Faulk and second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr. are expected to contribute as well.
The concern is the secondary, where the picture is far less settled. High-ticket free-agent additions Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott have started to bounce back after rough stretches early in camp, and Marcus Harris gives Tennessee a solid option in the nickel.
Even so, the depth behind him is thin. The unit also took a hit when veteran free agent Joshua Williams landed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury.
That group has a lot to prove. Quarterbacks who started preseason games against the Titans completed 89% of their passes, a number that underlines how shaky the back end looked when it was actually tested.
Those two areas are the big unknowns on defense, and the preseason didn’t settle much. The front seven showed promise, but it barely got extended work together. The secondary played limited snaps too, and when it was on the field, the results were uneven.
Sunday’s matchup with the Jets should tell a lot. It will show whether the work in joint practices mattered more than what Tennessee put on tape in the preseason.
In Other News...
Titans Secondary Just Got A Late Addition Worth Watching Closely
The Titans added a familiar face to their secondary just before the season opener, signing cornerback Jaylon Jones as they continue fine-tuning the roster ahead of a visit from the New York Jets. Jones arrives with real AFC South experience after spending two years as a starter with the Indianapolis Colts, and his path back to Tennessee includes a reunion with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, under whom he had his best NFL season.
Jones takes the spot of Melvin Smith Jr., who was released, and the move gives Tennessee another veteran option at corner as the opener approaches. For now, the expectation is straightforward: help with depth, contribute on special teams, and give Bradley another piece he knows well in a secondary that still looks to be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face An Early Week 1 Linebacker Test Nobody Wanted
Cedric Grays status has quickly become one of the more uncomfortable early-week storylines for the Titans, with the linebacker in concussion protocol after a UTV accident and listed as questionable for the upcoming game. For a defense trying to settle in around a new coaching staff, losing a player viewed as one of its leading linebackers would be a reminder that Week 1 can turn on depth just as much as it does on game plans.
Robert Saleh and the Titans may have to lean on James Williams and Anthony Hill if Gray cannot go, and both young linebackers would be stepping into a meaningful early opportunity. How Tennessee handles that spot will say plenty about where the defense stands right now, because the answer is not just about replacing one player but about how quickly the next man up can absorb the job without losing the middle of the field. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Faces The First Real Test Of The Titans Rebuild
Cam Ward enters his second season with the kind of attention that comes with being the face of a rebuild, and the Titans are asking for more than flashes. After a rookie year that gave Tennessee a baseline to measure from, the next step is about consistency, command and whether the offense can start looking like something more stable under Robert Salehs watch. The preseason only sharpened the curiosity around Ward, because now the real games begin and the expectations rise with them.
Sundays home opener against the Jets should tell Tennessee a lot about where Ward is in that process. It is one thing to show growth in camp and preseason settings, but a regular-season test at home will reveal how he handles pressure, how far the supporting cast has come and whether the Titans offense is ready to give the rebuild some traction. For a team trying to find its footing, the early returns on Ward could shape the whole conversation. [Read more 🡒]