The Titans are getting a different kind of test on Friday.
Tennessee will host the Seahawks for a joint practice, then turn around and face the reigning Super Bowl champions again two days later in the second preseason game. After last weekend’s rough work against the 49ers, a few Titans are walking into this one with something to prove.
Cam Ward is at the top of that list. The starting quarterback went just 5-of-12 for 57 yards against San Francisco, and the outing was messy from start to finish.
His throws were off, the misses piled up, and he also got hit with a disastrous intentional grounding penalty. That was a far cry from the positive momentum he had built earlier in camp, and Tennessee could use a sharper version of Ward against Seattle’s tough secondary.
Carnell Tate is another name worth watching. The rookie receiver didn’t come away with a catch in his preseason debut, though the bigger issue was the offense around him.
Even so, Tate has been giving Titans defensive backs Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott fits in practice. Seattle just made Devon Witherspoon the highest-paid corner in NFL history, so if the two sides get some Tate-Witherspoon work on Friday, that should be one of the more interesting matchups of the day.
The Titans secondary also needs a much better showing. Taylor and Flott were picked apart in the opener against the 49ers’ second-string offense, with backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke going 12-of-14 and rookie wideout De’Zhaun Stribling doing most of the damage.
Head coach Robert Saleh said he isn’t panicking, but he did acknowledge the urgency. That pressure only gets heavier with Sam Darnold set to work with reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a pairing that looks like a major problem for Tennessee on paper.
In Other News...
Titans Running Backs Just Got The Disrespect Fans Will Remember
The Titans backfield looks set up for another season built around Tony Pollard, with Tyjae Spears positioned as the primary insurance policy and rookie Nicholas Singleton giving Tennessee a third option in the room. It is a group that still carries some intrigue because of how the offense could lean on the ground game if the passing attack has a hard time finding consistency.
Still, Pro Football Focus preseason ranking landed the Titans running back room at 22nd, a label that will not sit well with a fan base that expects more from one of the leagues most important position groups. The number itself is only part of the story, because Tennessees backs are going to matter plenty if the offense needs them to shoulder a bigger load than the outside perception suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Roster Shakeup Puts Unexpected Focus On Their Defensive Depth
The Titans kept their roster moving this week, adding veteran defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler after recent workouts while also making a change at tight end by releasing Matt Lauter. The pair of defensive signings fits the kind of late-summer roster churn that often reveals where a team thinks it needs more insulation, especially when injuries and availability start to reshape the back end of the roster.
Nazeeh Johnsons move to injured reserve adds another wrinkle for Tennessee, coming shortly after he was suspended for six games for violating the NFLs Performance Enhancing Substances policy. With Johnson unavailable and the Titans bringing in players who have already bounced around the league, the emphasis now shifts to how much reliable depth they can build on defense before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Add Two Defenders As One New Arrival Suddenly Stands Out
With a joint practice against the Seahawks on deck and another game looming, the Titans are continuing to churn the bottom of the roster while trying to keep the defensive depth chart stable. Tennessee placed safety Nazeeh Johnson on Reserve/Injured after his six-game suspension for violating the NFLs Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, then opened the spot by releasing tight end Matt Lauter and bringing in defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Milo Eifler.
The two additions give the Titans some extra bodies on defense at a time when preseason reps matter, and Kpassagnon in particular is a name that immediately jumps off the page among the newcomers. With the roster still in flux this close to the Seattle week, the more interesting question is how quickly Tennessee can sort out which of these fresh faces is simply filling space and which one might force his way into a larger role. [Read more 🡒]