The Tennessee Titans are heading into their 2026 opener on Sunday at Nissan Stadium against the New York Jets with a little adversity already on the doorstep.
Tennessee learned that linebacker Cedric Gray must clear concussion protocol before he can be available in 2026 after suffering a concussion over the weekend in a UTV accident. That news lands just as the Titans prepare for kickoff, adding an early challenge to a team trying to get rolling.
But second-year wide receiver Elic Ayomanor thinks this group is in a better place to handle moments like that. In a conversation with Turron Davenport on Monday, Ayomanor said he spent the offseason sharpening the mental side of his game and thinking more about how to respond when things go sideways.
“This offseason, that’s one of the things I worked on the most: the mental side of the game, responding to adversity, and like how you can bring yourself or maybe not get out of it after having adversity,” Ayomanor said. “But as a team, like we’ve gone through a full camp together, and we’ve seen each other respond to adversity on a daily basis.”
That kind of answer matters for a Titans team that has had trouble handling rough stretches over the past two seasons under Brian Callahan. The sense now is that Tennessee is in a different spot, with a maturing quarterback on offense and a new, experienced coaching staff led by Robert Saleh. If Ayomanor’s read is accurate, the Titans may be better prepared to absorb the next punch and keep moving.
In Other News...
Titans Defensive Overhaul Is Already Facing Doubt Over One Key Signing
The Titans spent the offseason remaking a defense that needed a fresh look, changing both the coaching staff and the roster with an eye toward a faster turnaround. Among the moves that drew attention was the addition of Alontae Taylor, a signing that was supposed to help stabilize a unit still taking shape. There has been some optimism around his late training-camp progress, which at least gave Tennessee a reason to feel better about where things were headed.
Still, the early read on Taylor has not been universally glowing, and ESPN analyst Seth Walder raised the possibility that the fit may not pay off the way the Titans hoped based on preseason observations and the price attached to the deal. For a team trying to sell a defensive reset, that kind of uncertainty matters. The real answer, though, will not come from camp notes or outside speculation. It will come once the regular season starts and Taylor has to show whether the late improvement was the beginning of something real. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Enter Week 1 With One Huge Doubt Still Hanging Over Them
The Titans open their 2026 season at home against the Jets with plenty of outside skepticism still following them into Week 1. Around the league, analysts have slotted Tennessee near the bottom of power rankings, even while noting a little cautious optimism about the direction of the roster under new head coach Robert Saleh.
A big part of the conversation has centered on Cam Ward and how quickly the quarterback can settle in as the season gets rolling. Tennessee has already gone through roster cuts and added new pieces, including rookie receiver Carnell Tate, but the real question hanging over the opener is whether the pieces around Ward and the new staff can start turning that optimism into something more tangible. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Just Raised The Stakes For Houston's Week 1 Opener
Week 1 always comes with a little extra edge, and the AFC South is already feeling it before anyone has taken a snap. Around the division, Daniel Jones is still reflecting on the right Achilles injury he suffered against Jacksonville, Shane Steichen is sorting through the status of Alec Pierce and A.J. Haulcy, and Quinn Ewers is settling into his new home after a trade to the Jaguars. In Houston, DeMeco Ryans is projecting confidence in his defense and in Kayshon Bouttes readiness, which only adds to the sense that the Texans expect to set the tone early.
For Tennessee, there is a familiar storyline tucked into the opener as Jermaine Johnson gets ready to face the Jets, the team he left behind this offseason. It is the kind of matchup that naturally carries some personal weight, even if Johnson is trying not to turn it into anything bigger than a football game. With Houston already sounding intent on making a statement, the Titans will be watching how Johnson handles the moment against a former club that knows him well. [Read more 🡒]