The Tennessee Titans walked into last season with one of the NFL’s most broken offenses, and the numbers were ugly across the board. Cam Ward was sacked nearly 60 times in his rookie year, and Tennessee finished 30th or worse in points per game, yards per game, touchdowns per game and fourth-down conversion percentage, according to TeamRankings.
That kind of output usually drags a team to the bottom of preseason expectations, and USA TODAY did exactly that to the Titans. In its offensive rankings ahead of the 2026 season, Tennessee landed at No. 31, with only the Cleveland Browns viewed as a weaker unit.
The rest of the AFC South didn’t exactly offer much comfort, either. Jacksonville checked in highest in the division at No. 12.
Still, there’s a real case that the Titans are better set up on offense than that ranking suggests. Tennessee attacked the side of the ball during its rebuild, and hiring defensive-minded Robert Saleh didn’t stop the front office from giving Ward more help. Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate are in the mix at receiver, and the offensive line has also been reworked.
That should matter because the Titans’ top pass-catching hierarchy looks different now. Calvin Ridley, when healthy, along with Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, has been pushed down the depth chart. Robinson and Tate now sit at the top, with Robinson coming off a 1,000-yard season in a Brian Daboll offense and Tate arriving as the fourth overall pick.
There’s reason for optimism in the backfield, too. Tyjae Spears is heading into the season fully healthy and should give Tennessee a useful complement behind Tony Pollard.
Up front, the signs are encouraging as well. Right tackle JC Latham is showing growth, which is an early positive for offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, and rookie right guard Fernando Carmona has forced his way into the starting job. Per PFF, Carmona posted the highest offensive grade among all rookie offensive linemen in the preseason, with a minimum of 50 blocking snaps.
The Titans also locked up left guard Peter Skoronski on a $100 million extension, another clear sign that the organization is investing heavily in keeping Ward upright and giving him room to develop.
That’s the key difference between Tennessee and some of the other teams sitting near the bottom of USA TODAY’s list. The Browns, ranked 32nd, shocked the league by giving Deshaun Watson the starting nod. The Jets, at No. 29, brought in Geno Smith, who led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season.
Ward still isn’t a Pro Bowler, but Tennessee’s path under center looks far more stable than the outside projection suggests.
In Other News...
Cam Ward Now Has Everything Needed To Silence Titans Doubters
Cam Wards first season in Tennessee came with plenty of hard lessons, from taking too many sacks to trying to steer a team that simply did not win enough around him. So when FanSided slotted him 23rd among active quarterbacks, it fit the uneasy middle ground he now occupies, a young passer with enough traits to intrigue but not yet enough proof to quiet the noise. The Titans have spent the offseason trying to change that conversation by reshaping the environment around him and making it easier for his next step to show up on the field.
Brian Daboll is now in place as offensive coordinator, and Tennessee has also worked to improve the receiving group around Ward with Wan'Dale Robinson and first-round pick Carnell Tate among the additions. It is the kind of support system that can make a real difference for a quarterback still trying to turn flashes into consistency, and it is why the 2026 season feels like such an important one for Ward. The doubt is still there, but for the first time since his arrival, so is a clearer path to answering it. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Saleh's Titans Face An Uncomfortable AFC South Reality
Robert Saleh is stepping into a familiar but uneasy Tennessee Titans job, with the team set to welcome its third head coach in three years in 2026. The move comes after four straight losing seasons since 2021, and while there is an expectation that the Titans can take a step forward, the broader picture around them is not exactly forgiving.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports still has Tennessee pegged to finish last in the AFC South, which is a reminder of how steep the climb remains. Houston, Jacksonville and Indianapolis all bring more established competition in the division, leaving Saleh and the Titans with more than just an internal reset to manage as they try to change the trajectory. [Read more 🡒]
Calvin Ridley Faces A Different Titans Reality This Season
The Titans head into this season with one of the youngest rosters in the league, and that reality is shaping the wide receiver room in a noticeable way. Calvin Ridley, now on a reworked deal that lowered his cap hit, is no longer being slotted in as the clear centerpiece. Instead, he is expected to work behind younger options like Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate, while rookie Elic Ayomanor has also pushed himself into the conversation as a possible primary target.
For Ridley, it is a different kind of role than the one he has carried in previous stops, especially after injuries cost him significant time last season. Even so, the Titans still have reasons to value what he brings beyond the stat sheet. His experience gives a young offense some needed steadiness, and his presence should matter in a room built more around development than certainty. [Read more 🡒]