The first week of Tennessee Titans training camp has already given Robert Saleh a few reasons to like what he’s seeing. Three practices in, there’s a clear early shape to this team - and it starts with the connection between Cam Ward and Carnell Tate.
Ward and Tate have been the most consistent storyline so far. They’ve hooked up repeatedly on big plays, including a red-zone touchdown on day one that quickly spread on social media.
For a rookie receiver coming off an impressive offseason, it’s been a strong start that backs up why the Titans took Tate fourth overall. If this keeps up, Tennessee could be looking at a quarterback-receiver pairing built to last.
On the other side of the ball, Saleh’s defense has wasted no time making its mark. Through the first week, the defense has taken the upper hand in plenty of the team’s battles, with the defensive line getting pressure that has rushed throws and the secondary producing pass breakups and interceptions.
Even without full pads, the edge and urgency of Saleh’s approach have been obvious. That’s exactly the kind of tone Tennessee wanted after finishing near the bottom of the league defensively last season.
There’s also a real sense of competition across the roster. Saleh has made it clear that every rep matters, and that message has shown up on the field. As the practices get more physical with padded work ahead, the battles should sharpen even more, particularly at center and right guard.
In Other News...
Cam Ward Just Gave Titans Fans An Early Camp Concern
The Titans first padded practice of training camp brought an early reminder that Cam Wards growth will not be measured only by the splash plays. The quarterback did show some of the arm talent and rhythm that have made him such a central figure in Tennessees plans, but the session also included a pair of interceptions that underlined how quickly a practice can shift from promising to revealing once the pads come on.
What stood out was the decision-making part of the equation, not just the results. Robert Saleh pointed to the need for Ward to be smarter with the football as he settles into his second year, and while Ward bounced back with other accurate throws, the practice served as a useful checkpoint for a young quarterback still learning when to take the safe exit instead of forcing a throw into traffic. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Intensity Is Rising As Young Standouts Force Attention
The first padded practice of Titans training camp brought the kind of edge coaches usually hope to see once the helmets and shoulder pads come on. The tempo picked up, the contact felt real, and a few younger names made it hard to ignore them, with Cam Ward, James Williams, Elic Ayomanor and Nick Singleton all standing out during a session that had more bite than the early camp workouts.
The physical tone also came with a brief flash of temper when Jeffery Simmons and JC Latham got into a minor altercation, only for things to settle quickly before it escalated. For Tennessee, that kind of edge can be a good sign this time of year, especially when the roster is still sorting out which players are ready to push into bigger roles and which ones need more time to prove they belong in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rookie Jaren Kanak Is Forcing His Way Into This Camp Battle
Through the first four training camp practices, Jaren Kanak has started to make himself part of the conversation in a Titans tight end room that is still sorting out the back end of the roster. The rookie has flashed the kind of athleticism that made him such an interesting late transition story in college, and his work has shown up in recent sessions, including a five-catch stretch across two practices as fans got their first look at the group this week.
Kanak is still fighting for a roster spot, and his path to making it will likely run through special teams more than a featured role on offense. Even so, the former linebacker-turned-tight end is giving Tennessee something to think about early in camp, which is exactly the kind of push a young player needs if he wants to turn a developmental opportunity into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]