Titans LB James Williams Watching from the Sidelines as Cedric Gray Emerges
Back in training camp, it looked like James Williams was on a clear path to a starting role in Tennessee’s linebacker corps. The second-year defender was getting all the first-team reps, and the expectation was that he’d be a key piece in the Titans’ defensive rebuild. But as often happens in the NFL, things changed - and fast.
By the second preseason game, another sophomore linebacker, Cedric Gray, started cutting into Williams’ reps. And he didn’t stop.
Gray’s rise wasn’t just a camp flash - it’s turned into a full-on breakout. He’s now entrenched as one of the defense’s most productive players, and heading into Week 14 against the Browns, Gray ranks second in the entire NFL in tackles with 118.
That’s not just solid - that’s elite production from a second-year player still finding his ceiling.
Meanwhile, Williams is still waiting to take his first defensive snap of the season.
Instead of patrolling the middle of the field, Williams has been relegated to special teams duty - and even there, he’s been busy, logging the second-most special teams snaps on the roster under coordinator John “Bones” Fassel. It’s a far cry from the role he likely envisioned back in July when he was running with the ones.
This is where the roster dynamics get interesting. Williams was drafted under former GM Ran Carthon, not current general manager Mike Borgonzi.
And while Borgonzi also inherited Gray, it’s clear which player has earned the staff’s trust. Gray is producing at a high level on defense, while Williams is trying to carve out value on kick coverage.
Borgonzi hasn’t been shy about reshaping the roster. He’s already moved on from other players from Williams’ 2024 draft class - trading away Jarvis Brownlee and releasing Jha’Quan Jackson. If Williams doesn’t find a way to contribute on defense soon, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him follow a similar path out of Nashville once the season wraps.
There’s also the recent development of Williams taking practice reps at EDGE. That’s not typically a great sign for a player whose original role was as an off-ball linebacker. It suggests the coaching staff is searching for ways to keep him involved - or perhaps just trying to see if he fits elsewhere.
For a player who came into the season with starting aspirations, it’s been a tough sophomore campaign. Williams still has physical tools and upside, but right now, his future with the Titans looks murky at best. With Gray thriving and the front office already showing a willingness to move on from inherited pieces, Williams’ window to make a defensive impact in Tennessee may be closing fast.