The Titans may not have given Robert Saleh a long list of feel-good stories in 2025, but they’ve found one area that keeps popping: special teams. And the way this group is coming together, it looks like Bones Fassel might have even more to work with than he did a year ago.
That’s saying something, because Tennessee’s special teams went from rough to excellent almost overnight. Fassel deserves plenty of credit for that jump, but the roster changes from GM Mike Borgonzi mattered too, especially the arrival of All-Pro return man Chimere Dike. Even with backups and depth players handling much of the blocking around him, Fassel made the whole operation function.
Now the intriguing part is what happens when that same unit gets more explosive athletes in the mix.
A week into camp, the linebacker room is driving a lot of that conversation. The starters appear to be Cedric Gray and Cody Barton, which fits.
Barton has had his share of highs and lows, but he’s a known piece, and the staff is comfortable with him playing behind an aggressive front. Next to him, Gray brings the kind of tackling volume that makes the pairing easy to understand.
Behind them, though, Tennessee has a young duo making noise every day: James Williams and Anthony Hill. Both are showing up in practice with splash plays, whether that means forcing turnovers or simply racing to the football. The coaching staff has taken notice.
And even if a starting job isn’t immediately there, special teams gives them a path to make an impact on Sundays. With Fassel overseeing that phase, Robert Saleh has to appreciate the possibilities there, especially given his background as a linebackers coach.
The linebacker group isn’t the only reason Tennessee’s special teams could be dangerous. Rookie tight end Jaren Kanak is another wild card, and his college resume stands out for a simple reason: he had 100+ tackles in college.
There’s also a ripple effect at wide receiver that could help Dike stay fresh. The way things are trending, Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, and Elic Ayomanor could form a four-headed monster at the position. If that holds, Dike should have the chance to stay rested and be ready when his number comes on special teams.
In Other News...
Will Levis Just Gave Titans Fans Another Reason To Worry
Will Levis drew attention again during an open inter-squad scrimmage, and not for the kind of play the Titans were hoping to see. Trying to escape defenders, the quarterback slipped and fell, a small moment on the practice field but one that lands differently for a player whose NFL journey has already been defined by inconsistency and constant scrutiny.
For Tennessee, the concern is less about one misplaced step than the larger picture around Levis. He is currently third on the depth chart behind Cam Ward and Mitch Trubisky, and every miscue only adds to the sense that his path back into the mix is getting steeper. Levis has already dealt with plenty away from the field as well, after a private video tied to him was leaked in 2024 and an investigation later found he had been hacked by criminals, according to his mother Beth Levis. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Surprise Is Forcing A Bigger WR Question
Elic Ayomanor has become one of the more interesting names in Titans camp, which is no small thing for a receiver trying to make noise in a room that already got plenty of offseason attention. Tennessee added help at the position, but Ayomanor keeps showing up as a legitimate camp performer, the kind of player who can complicate a depth chart even when the pecking order seemed to be taking shape. With Brian Daboll now steering the offense, every clean route and every contested catch carries extra weight as the Titans try to sort out what this passing game can really become.
The larger issue is bigger than one receiver. Tennessee is still trying to give its quarterback and offensive line enough stability to let the new system breathe, and a camp surprise like Ayomanor only sharpens the questions about who will actually be on the field when the season opens. He has already handled one brief scare in practice and returned to the encouraging side of the ledger, but the real test is whether the early buzz can last long enough to force the Titans to make a harder decision than they probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Take A Serious Look At A Pressure Spot Fans Know Too Well
The Titans took a familiar step this week by bringing in a group of free agent specialists for a tryout, a clear sign that the club is at least checking on every possible answer at a position that can turn uncomfortable in a hurry. Among the kickers available was Younghoe Koo, whose recent pro path has included a series of contract moves and team stops before landing back in the conversation as a veteran option.
Tennessees workout also drew kickers John Hoyland and John Parker Romo, punters Aidan Laros and Cole Maynard, and long snappers Garrison Grimes and Marco Ortiz. Koos 2025 season with the Falcons and Giants was uneven by his standards, but the bigger takeaway for the Titans is simple enough: they are looking closely at the specialists market, and when a team does that, it usually means the evaluation process is only getting started. [Read more 🡒]