Ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the New York Jets, the Titans have put out their unofficial depth chart, and it offers a pretty clear early read on a couple of the roster questions hanging over Week 1.
Nothing here is locked in yet, but Tennessee did take a stance on two spots that had some real intrigue: receiver and linebacker.
At the top of the receiver group, Calvin Ridley is listed as a starter. That was the most likely outcome, even with second-year wideout Elic Ayomanor continuing to push for that role. Ridley’s place on the outside looked secure, but the depth chart at least confirms where Tennessee is leaning to begin the season.
The Titans aren’t expecting Ridley to carry the offense on his own. Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate were brought in because Ridley had been unreliable as the team’s top receiving option.
Even so, there’s been some goodwill built up around the veteran after he accepted a pay cut on his previously massive, $92 million contract this offseason. Ridley, 31, also spent time battling multiple untimely injuries, and Ayomanor had outplayed him last year during those stretches.
If Ridley can stay healthy and shoulder less of the load, Tennessee may be hoping he can settle in as a steadier presence in Nashville.
The other notable call came at linebacker, where Cedric Gray is listed ahead of James Williams. That one wasn’t a slam dunk, even if Williams may have entered the competition as the more familiar name at the position. He has more years in the system, but Hill brings a different kind of upside.
Hill made a strong summer case with a sack, an interception and seven total tackles in the preseason. For a rookie, that kind of production turned heads quickly. Williams’ argument, meanwhile, leans on experience: he has played 29 combined games for Tennessee over the last two seasons.
It’s not often that a rookie drafted into a crowded spot gets a real shot right away, but Hill clearly forced the issue. And even if the depth chart does hold, Cedric Gray’s concussion could open the door for Hill to make his presence felt anyway. Tennessee’s injury report before Week 1 will be especially important for that linebacker group.
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