Cordell Volson entered Tennessee Titans training camp with a real opening in front of him. The right guard job was the one spot on the roster that wasn’t already locked down, and after GM Mike Borgonzi signed him to a one-year deal in free agency, plenty of fans still had Jackson Slater pegged as the cleaner answer. Then the Titans added Fernando Carmona in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the competition started to shift fast.
At first, it looked like the battle would come down to Volson and Slater. But Carmona made a strong impression in the preseason opener against the 49ers, and after some changes in the practice rotation, he now looks like the heavy favorite. That leaves Volson in a bad spot, because his own tape from last Thursday did him no favors.
He was a problem in both phases. In the run game, he got driven back and helped create tackles for loss for the 49ers.
In pass protection, he was part of multiple sacks on Will Levis in the second half. Whether it was a defensive tackle slipping past him at the snap or powering him straight back into the quarterback, Volson simply did not look dependable.
That kind of outing does more than cost a starting job. It can cost a roster spot.
Slater looked steadier as a backup guard, and his ability to play center gives him an edge for interior depth. That makes it very possible the Titans keep Slater and move on from Volson before the regular season, with roster cutdown day set for August 30th.
Carmona’s rise only makes that outcome more likely. When he was drafted in April, he looked like a long shot to take the job this quickly.
After one preseason outing, though, he has moved into the lead. He also spoke at the podium following Wedneday’s practice.
Volson should still get more reps during the rest of the preseason, but the margin for error is thin. If he keeps struggling against second- and third-string defenders, the Titans may decide he won’t be part of the 53-man roster on August 30th.
Borgonzi has some tough calls to make along the interior.
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