The Tennessee Titans have only gotten through four training camp practices so far, but one rookie has already started to separate himself in a quiet way. Seventh-round tight end Jaren Kanak was one of the more underrated standouts during Saturday’s first open practice, and he’s been building on the momentum he showed during OTAs and minicamps.
Kanak has made the most of limited chances in a crowded tight end room. Across Thursday and Saturday’s sessions, he caught five passes, and Jim Wyatt took notice in his observations piece, writing: " Tight end Jaren Kanak has been more active the past two sessions, and the guy looks like an athlete," Wyatt wrote in his observations article. That kind of early buzz is worth watching as the Titans move closer to preseason action.
Tennessee’s depth chart at tight end is already taking shape. The team is excited about sophomore Gunnar Helm handling the primary pass-catching role, while Daniel Bellinger was brought in on a three-year, $24 million deal in free agency and is expected to be a major factor as well because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Behind them, the Titans have several veterans in the mix for the TE3 job on the 53-man roster, including David Martin-Robinson, who has been a steady special teams presence, and Kylen Granson, whom general manager Mike Borgonzi signed to a one-year contract.
Kanak’s path to this point has been unusual, and it helps explain why his early work stands out. He played linebacker at Oklahoma before making the position switch to tight end this past season. The transition paid off quickly: he posted 44 catches for 533 yards in 13 starts and earned Third-Team All-SEC honors.
For now, Kanak probably has the clearest route to a special teams role as a rookie, and his linebacker background makes that a natural fit. But when the Titans have let him work as a pass-catching option, he’s looked smooth, active and productive. That’s how a late-round rookie starts to earn attention.
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Cam Ward Just Gave Titans Fans An Early Camp Concern
The Titans first padded practice of training camp brought an early reminder that Cam Wards growth will not be measured only by the splash plays. The quarterback did show some of the arm talent and rhythm that have made him such a central figure in Tennessees plans, but the session also included a pair of interceptions that underlined how quickly a practice can shift from promising to revealing once the pads come on.
What stood out was the decision-making part of the equation, not just the results. Robert Saleh pointed to the need for Ward to be smarter with the football as he settles into his second year, and while Ward bounced back with other accurate throws, the practice served as a useful checkpoint for a young quarterback still learning when to take the safe exit instead of forcing a throw into traffic. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Intensity Is Rising As Young Standouts Force Attention
The first padded practice of Titans training camp brought the kind of edge coaches usually hope to see once the helmets and shoulder pads come on. The tempo picked up, the contact felt real, and a few younger names made it hard to ignore them, with Cam Ward, James Williams, Elic Ayomanor and Nick Singleton all standing out during a session that had more bite than the early camp workouts.
The physical tone also came with a brief flash of temper when Jeffery Simmons and JC Latham got into a minor altercation, only for things to settle quickly before it escalated. For Tennessee, that kind of edge can be a good sign this time of year, especially when the roster is still sorting out which players are ready to push into bigger roles and which ones need more time to prove they belong in the mix. [Read more 🡒]