The Tennessee Titans didn’t wait long to stir the pot this preseason. On Sunday, they unveiled their first depth chart of the year, and it came with a few surprises ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
That first chart matters, even if it won’t stay put for long. Camp is a moving target, battles are still forming, and a strong week can change how a player is viewed in a hurry. With a joint practice and preseason game against the 49ers on deck, several Titans have a real chance to push their way up the board - or slide the other direction.
Here are five names and battles worth tracking closely.
Nick Singleton is the most intriguing of the bunch. When Tennessee drafted him, plenty of people saw a steal: an explosive Penn State runner whose pre-draft climb was slowed by a Senior Bowl foot injury.
Since camp opened, Singleton has looked decisive and explosive, and he has responded well whenever he’s gotten first-team reps. Now he gets a real test against another team, which gives him a chance to turn practice buzz into something more concrete.
Fernando Carmona has been quieter, but his rise has been steady. The rookie guard spent much of the offseason and early camp out of the spotlight, yet he has worked himself into the right guard battle with veteran Cordell Volson.
Carmona has looked solid, showed up on the field for Cam Ward’s only touchdown pass in the Blue & White scrimmage, and kept making plays in Sunday’s practice. Volson likely gets the start against the 49ers, but Carmona should be on the field early and see meaningful snaps.
Cody Barton is in a different spot. He’s the veteran in Tennessee’s rebuilt linebacker room and is currently penciled in as a starter, but he’s going to have to hold off James Williams and rookie Anthony Hill Jr.
Barton has looked stiff in competition and has been outplayed by both throughout camp. This week offers him a chance to clean up some uneven moments and reassert himself.
The swing tackle situation also deserves attention, and not in a good way. Austin Deculus and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson are the names to watch there, since the Titans did not identify a swing tackle on the initial depth chart.
Both are listed as backup tackles, and neither has impressed much in camp. That could force general manager Mike Borgonzi to look outside the building for help.
Against the 49ers, both players get an opportunity to show they can handle that job.
Then there’s Joey Slye, who may be the most uncomfortable watch of all. Special teams coordinator John “Bones’ Fassel has talked about his approach with specialists, but the current situation has already raised eyebrows.
Slye has been erratic in camp and was a big reason Tennessee’s offense lost the Blue & White scrimmage after three missed field goals, all makeable. The Titans worked out three kickers the next day, but none were signed, leaving Slye as the only kicker on the roster.
That puts a lot on this week. Tennessee needs points, and it needs a kicker who can be trusted in the moments that matter.
Slye has a chance to settle things down against the 49ers. If he doesn’t, the Titans may not wait long to bring in another leg before heading back to Nashville.
In Other News...
Cam Ward Is Already Showing Titans Fans A Different Edge
A recent joint practice with the 49ers offered an early look at what Cam Ward can bring to the Titans beyond arm talent. The rookie quarterback did not back down from a lively exchange with Fred Warner, and the back-and-forth fit the kind of competitive setting both teams seemed to want. Ward came away valuing the challenge, while Warner praised the fearless approach that showed up across the session.
For Tennessee, that edge matters because practice got chippy enough that some Titans players had to be pulled aside after altercations, a reminder that these meetings can blur the line between work and tempers. The preseason game between the teams is still ahead, but this one already gave the Titans a glimpse of how Ward handles pressure when the intensity rises and the defenses are not giving him anything easy. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Center Battle Is Starting To Tell A Bigger Story
As the Titans get set for a joint practice and preseason game against the 49ers, the center competition is beginning to take on more shape than the team probably expected this early in camp. Early reports and Tennessees first preseason depth chart point to Austin Schlottmann, the free-agent addition, as the player trending toward the starting job, with ESPNs Turron Davenport noting the way the reps have been sorting out and teammates also offering support for what they have seen.
Pat Coogan is still in the mix, but the first preseason depth chart offered a clearer snapshot of where things stand by placing him behind Andre James and Schlottmann. For a line still sorting out its best configuration, the center spot matters well beyond one position battle, and the Titans now have a small but meaningful clue about which direction they may be leaning as the preseason work picks up. [Read more 🡒]