The Tennessee Titans are 0-2, and Robert Saleh is already living under the kind of early pressure that comes with the NFL’s shortest patience window. That doesn’t mean he’s on the hot seat in the same way Brian Callahan was before him, but it does mean every decision is getting a hard look after back-to-back losses to the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.
And this start has not exactly put Saleh in good company. Ten head coaches were hired this offseason, and only four are still looking for their first win through two weeks. Along with Saleh, Jeff Hafley with the Miami Dolphins, Todd Monken with the Cleveland Browns, and Kevin Stefanski with the Atlanta Falcons are all sitting at 0-2.
So how much of Tennessee’s rough opening stretch belongs to Saleh? Not all of it, but enough to matter.
He inherited a broken situation, one that was never likely to be turned around instantly. A playoff push in his first season was always a stretch.
But once a coach lands among the few winless hires in the league, some of the blame has to land at his feet too. You can’t pin every individual performance on him, but you can point to the head-to-head coaching moments that have gone against him, including the sideline battle with Aaron Glenn.
Saleh’s role in the defense makes that easier to track. Week 1 offered a clear example when Frank Reich’s offense ran the ball straight at a soft Tennessee front.
This past week brought a different problem. The Titans tightened up against the run, but Jalen Hurts and the Eagles eventually took control with an unanswered passing surge in the fourth quarter.
That’s been the frustrating theme so far: Tennessee has yet to put together a complete four-quarter performance on either side of the ball. When Saleh leans on his defense to cover for an offense that is only so-so, the result has been subpar football on both ends.
The Philadelphia loss also brought a telling admission from Saleh. He said his offense could have been more aggressive, explaining that he believed the Titans could rely on their defense at that point. Instead, settling for a field goal and putting the game in the defense’s hands ended in defeat.
That sequence says plenty. It was a gamble built on caution, the kind of approach that can be summed up as “playing not to lose.” Tennessee showed a similar mindset against the Jets when it was trailing and still chose a handful of puzzling punts.
The larger point is simple: the Titans need more risk, and they need both units to work together instead of one trying to cover for the other. Saleh is not solely responsible for the early mess, but his cautious approach has cost Tennessee momentum.
There is still time for him to turn it around. He has shown enough good signs to keep people interested in where this goes next. But losing has a way of tightening the screws, no matter who is calling the shots.
That makes this week’s road game against the New York Giants a big one for everyone involved, especially Saleh.
In Other News...
Titans Secondary Suddenly Has A Week 3 Concern Fans Need To Watch
The Titans added cornerback Erick Hallett II to their active roster ahead of Sundays Week 3 matchup with the Giants, a move that reflects how quickly the secondary can change from one week to the next. Hallett had already been elevated for game days in each of the first two weeks and has been a steady presence on the practice squad, giving Tennessee a familiar option as it continues to sort through its defensive backfield.
The timing matters because CordDale Flott entered the week listed as questionable, leaving the Titans with an added layer of uncertainty at cornerback. Even with Hallett now secured on the roster, the bigger issue is how Tennessee will line up if Flott cannot go, and whether the team will need to lean on more depth than it expected just a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Face A Jameis Winston Decision They Didn't Want
Jaxson Darts season-ending knee injury in Week 2 forced the Giants into a quick pivot at quarterback, and Jameis Winston is now the player holding up the position while the rest of the roster waits to see how it all settles. Its the kind of midseason turn that can push a team into looking beyond its own depth chart, especially when the backup plan comes with real uncertainty and the season is still young.
Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported that New York has already been tied to possible trade targets for quarterback help, including Mitchell Trubisky of the Titans and Mason Rudolph of the Steelers. For Tennessee, Trubiskys name surfacing in that conversation is a reminder that quarterback-needy teams are watching the market closely, but everything still hinges on how Winston handles the job from here and whether the Giants decide they need a more established fallback. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Few Huge Week 3 Questions That Could Decide Everything
With the Titans sitting at 0-2, the Week 3 trip to face the Giants already has the feel of a swing game, and the injury situation is only adding to the uncertainty. Tennessee is watching the status of Tyjae Spears and Cor'Dale Flott closely, while New York will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, a wrinkle that should reshape how both teams approach the afternoon.
For Tennessee, the questions go beyond who is active and who is not. The Titans may need to lean more on rookie Carnell Tate if Spears cannot go, and the weather could also play a role in how aggressive the offense can be. In a game that feels capable of tilting the season one way or the other, a few lineup decisions could wind up carrying a lot more weight than they normally would this early in the year. [Read more 🡒]