Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut drew plenty of attention before kickoff again in Week 2, and not for anything he did on the field.
Chestnut arrived at Nissan Stadium wearing a Green Goblin costume from the Spider-Man Series for the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, just one week after showing up dressed as Black Panther ahead of the Titans’ home loss to the New York Jets. The repeat appearance did not sit well with a frustrated fan base already unhappy with the team’s start.
A wave of criticism followed online, with fans calling the 25-year-old “tone deaf” and saying he was out of step with the mood around the team. Some went further and demanded that he be cut.
One fan wrote: 'Hey @JuliusChestnut you like to clown? You tone deaf?
You don't even have the concept of appropriate. Get the f*** off this team and out this city.'
'I imagine he's also terrible at reading the vibe in the room,' another wrote. 'Tone deaf.'
One user suggested: 'Maybe start winning some games before doing this nonsense' and another demanded: 'Cut his ass. I don't need my benchwarmers being this comfortable.'
Another Titans account shared the post saying: 'I want this dude off my team yesterday. What a clown.'
'Corny behavior from a team that hasn't been good in a while,' read one reply, as someone pointed out: 'If only they put that much energy into things on the field....'.
Another commented: 'Would say they're just tone deaf but at this point it's obvious they just plain don't care. That reflects on the field pretty well.'
A further post added: 'team is 0-1 & got embarrassed by the Jets. this should get you cut. clearly dont take your job seriously.'
After the Week 1 loss, head coach Robert Saleh said his team was still upbeat as it shifted focus to Philadelphia.
'You're always excited to get back on,' Saleh said. 'You know, I think Wednesday is always a great day because it represents the turning of the page.
'You know, on Monday we went through and had a really good meeting with the group. Tuesday, you're game planning, and today's about turning the page, moving forward, and getting ready for the opponent.'
In Other News...
Titans Stayed In It But Two First Half Problems Are Growing
At halftime in Philadelphia, the Titans were hanging around despite a first half that left plenty to clean up. Amani Hooker provided the biggest spark with a 92-yard interception return that set up Tennessees only touchdown, and Malik Ward did enough to keep the offense moving with a short, efficient passing line and a rushing score. Even so, the Eagles were still finding answers on both sides of the ball, and Tennessee had not yet found a way to consistently slow them down.
The bigger concern was the way the Titans were getting beaten at the point of attack and in coverage. Philadelphias run game kept creating problems, and the passing offense found enough space to stay ahead on the scoreboard, while Tennessees defensive line, including John Franklin-Myers, had a difficult opening half. The Titans were in striking distance at 14-10, but the issues that surfaced before the break were the kind that can pile up fast if they do not get corrected. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Loss Exposed One Frustrating Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Titans came out of their Week 2 loss to the Eagles with a few individual performances worth building on, even if the final result still left plenty to sort through. Tyjae Spears gave the offense a spark, Cam Ward handled his role with poise, and Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker were among the defenders who helped keep Tennessee in the game for long stretches. Marcus Harris also added to the list of bright spots in a matchup that stayed tight deep into the second half.
Still, the bigger takeaway was hard to miss: Tennessees issues on third down on defense continued to surface, and the cornerback depth looked thin enough to be a concern moving forward. The dropped passes from Carnell Tate only added to the frustration on a day when the Titans had enough good individual moments to compete, but not enough clean execution to finish the job against Philadelphia. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Faces An Early Titans Test Fans Can't Ignore
The Titans are heading into Week 2 with a quick measuring-stick game on the schedule, welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to Nissa Stadium in a matchup that already has plenty of attention around Cam Ward. Tennessee is a 7-point underdog, which says a lot about the challenge in front of a young quarterback and a team still trying to establish itself early in the season.
Titans Wire analysts have already started weighing in on how this one could unfold, offering predictions and notes on both the likely outcome and what to watch from Tennessees side. For Ward, it is the kind of early test that can sharpen expectations fast, especially against a proven opponent that will force the Titans to find out where they stand before the schedule settles in. [Read more 🡒]