The Tennessee Titans’ offense has stumbled out of the gate, but Carnell Tate has become the one bright spot that’s hard to ignore. Even with Tennessee sitting at 0-3, the rookie wideout has done enough in the early going to build a real case that the Titans landed a major draft hit.
Tate started slowly in the preseason, then worked his way into becoming Tennessee’s most productive receiver. Three games into his NFL career, he’s already showing up as the best pass-catcher on the roster.
The numbers back that up in a big way. A recent chart tracking how well receivers separate in single coverage and how they perform in yards per route run puts Tate in rare territory alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St.
Brown, and Justin Jefferson. That’s elite company for any receiver, let alone one this early in his career.
Most players in that top-right quadrant are established stars, dependable veterans, or guys on the rise toward that level. Tate’s ability to create space has already separated him from the pack.
That’s why Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens feels like a chance for Tennessee to lean into what Tate does best. If the Titans are going to jump-start an offense that has struggled badly as a unit, getting the ball to their rookie playmaker more often may be the cleanest path.
It hasn’t happened enough yet. Cam Ward has missed Tate on open chances, and there have also been moments when Tate simply wasn’t featured at all. Those lost opportunities have cost the receiver at least a few catches and a touchdown.
Ward’s own development is part of the bigger problem, of course, but Tate has shown enough already to earn first-read treatment. He’s also coming off his best outing as a Titan, with six catches for 58 yards against the Giants.
Tennessee needs more of that, along with more designed deep shots to the first-year receiver. That alone won’t solve everything, especially with Brian Daboll’s questionable play-calling adding another layer to the offense’s issues. But it might have been enough to win last Sunday’s game.
And if a few more pieces fall into place, it could be enough to swing this Sunday’s matchup as well. At the very least, Titans fans want to see Ward connect with Tate on the open looks that have been left on the table.
In Other News...
Titans Finally Have Two Rookie Signs Of Hope In Rough Start
After a rough opening to the season, the Titans had at least one encouraging development in their rookie class against the Giants. Carnell Tate delivered his most productive game yet, finishing with a team-high six catches for 58 yards, while Keldric Faulk made his presence felt by recording his first career sack.
For a team still searching for steadier footing, those are the kinds of small but meaningful signs that matter early on. Tennessee has seen both rookies run into plenty of growing pains, but Sunday offered a clearer glimpse of why the organization has been betting on their development. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Pressure Around Cam Ward Is Starting To Feel Different
The Titans are still trying to sort out their offense around Cam Ward, and for now the message from inside the building is patience. ESPN reported the team is giving the rookie quarterback more time to grow, even as questions continue to build about how quickly the offense can start looking like a unit that can carry its own weight.
For Tennessee, the bigger issue is not just Wards development but the pressure around him, which has to start feeling different if the season is going to turn. The Titans know there is time for improvement, but they also know how quickly that time can shrink if the offense keeps lagging behind the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Fans Should Worry About What Experts See In Cam Ward
Cam Wards rookie season has already put him under the microscope, and the latest breakdown from Matt Hasselbeck and five other NFL quarterback experts only sharpens the focus. The group dug into Wards footwork and came away with the same basic concern: the foundation is not yet consistent enough, and that can show up in the accuracy issues that have followed him around at times.
The encouraging part for Tennessee is that Ward believes his lower-body mechanics are better now than they were last year, which suggests he is aware of the problem and working through it. The less comforting detail is what the experts noticed over the course of games, when his footwork can start clean and then slip as things wear on, raising the question of whether it is bad habit, the effect of too many hits, or both. [Read more 🡒]