The preseason is done, and the Titans are moving into Week 1 with a different feel around the building. Robert Saleh is now in charge, Tennessee made noise in free agency, and the addition of Carnell Tate in the draft has added another layer to a roster that looks far more interesting than it did a few months ago.
That backdrop makes Sunday’s opener against the Jets in Nashville a natural place to look for a few early-season sparks. There are four Titans who stand out as breakout candidates in the first game under the new staff, and the list stretches across both sides of the ball.
Jermaine Johnson tops the group. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jets, including part of that stretch under Saleh, before being dealt to Tennessee in March. Now he gets a revenge-game setting right away.
The matchup is not a soft one. New York’s offensive line is described as underrated, with Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu anchoring the edges.
Even so, Johnson is coming off a strong bounce-back season after tearing his Achilles in 2024. He recorded three sacks in 14 games, and now that he’s healthy, he should be in line for a meaningful workload in Week 1.
If Johnson is the defensive headline, Tate is the offensive wild card. The rookie receiver drew plenty of national criticism after a preseason in which he didn’t catch a pass, but the sense around Tennessee is that the staff was not showing its hand. Fans were warned all summer that the offense was extremely "vanilla" in the preseason, and Saleh essentially confirmed that the Titans weren’t really scheming for Tate yet.
That makes Week 1 a very different test. With the system expected to open up and Tate likely to have his number called, he has a real chance to turn that early noise into something more useful.
The same goes for Robinson, who may not have as much to prove but still belongs on the watch list. As Tennessee’s WR1, he should see the biggest share of targets in the offense. He was targeted four times in the Titans’ preseason opener and twice in the second game, and there’s also the Brian Daboll connection from their time together with the New York Giants.
There’s another reason Robinson could be busy: the Jets secondary comes with an ugly statistical note. It became the first unit in NFL history to finish a season without an interception, which leaves plenty of room for Tennessee to attack through the air.
On the back end, Kevin Winston Jr. is the name to circle. Entering his second year, he looks set for a bigger role as one of the few holdovers in Tennessee’s secondary. Cor’Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor are in the cornerback mix, but Winston is the one who feels most likely to make a leap.
He also has a favorable setup. Winston made the NFL’s All-Breakout Team, and he’ll line up against a Jets offense led by Geno Smith, who threw 17 interceptions last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. After a rookie year slowed by a college injury, Winston is positioned to get his first full season and could be first in line to take advantage if Smith keeps giving defenses chances.
In Other News...
Will Levis' NFL Return Chance Emerges After Messy Titans Exit
Will Levis is already on the move after his release from Tennessee, landing a workout with the Jets as they sort through their quarterback depth. New York is weighing additions to the practice squad, and head coach Aaron Glenn said the team is looking at options that include veteran quarterbacks, a sign the door is at least cracked open for Levis to find a quick landing spot.
The visit also puts Levis back in a familiar competition, this time alongside Jack Plummer for backup duty behind Cade Klubnik, who was named the Jets backup quarterback. For a player whose Titans exit ended messy, the next chapter could come quickly, but the path back into an NFL building still depends on whether New York decides he fits what it needs right now. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Turned A Cam Ward Critic Into A Bigger Debate
The Titans have found themselves in the middle of an unnecessary side story around Cam Ward, and it has quickly become bigger than one preseason comment. Jared Stillman, who publicly said Ward's exhibition performance was "not well" during a press conference exchange, had his media credentials revoked by the team, creating an immediate buzz around how the organization is handling outside criticism of its rookie quarterback.
For Tennessee, the timing matters because every note about Ward now gets filtered through both football and optics. The team has not offered an official explanation for the credential decision, leaving the move to speak for itself and inviting a broader debate about where fair criticism ends and access starts. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Have 4 Young Names Who Could Force Bigger Roles
The Titans have settled on their 53-man roster and practice squad for the 2026 season, and the next question is how quickly some of the younger pieces can push their way into bigger jobs. With Robert Saleh overseeing an overhauled defense and the offense leaning on a mix of rookies and sophomores, there is a clear path for development to turn into opportunity if the right players take advantage of it.
Among the names worth watching are wide receiver Elic Ayomanor, defensive end Jacob Martin, tight end Gunnar Helm and running back Tyjae Spears. Each brings a different kind of upside, and each sits in a spot where a strong start could alter his standing before long, especially on a roster still sorting out how much production it can squeeze from its younger talent. [Read more 🡒]