The Titans’ rookie class has given Tennessee a few real bright spots through the first month, even if the record hasn’t followed. At 0-4, with three straight one-possession losses and the franchise still in the mix for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the attention has shifted quickly to how the young core is developing under Robert Saleh.
Not every rookie is being judged the same way here. Pat Coogan, Jaren Kanak, and Jackie Marshall are left out because they haven’t logged significant snaps, with Kanak on IR. But for the rookies who have been on the field, there’s already enough tape to hand out some early grades.
Carnell Tate has been the headliner. The rookie wideout ranks 15th in the NFL in receiving yards and second among rookies, and he delivered his best performance yet in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens with nine catches for 145 yards.
Tate is quickly becoming Cam Ward’s top option by consistently winning with sharp route-running. Grade: A-
Anthony Hill Jr. has been just as important on the other side of the ball, and maybe even more surprising. The rookie linebacker ranks third in the NFL with 42 tackles and has been on the field for every Titans defensive snap this season - all 271 of them.
He’s been all over the field as both a run defender and in coverage, and the decision to trade up for him is looking like a strong one. Grade: A
Keldric Faulk is still easing into a bigger role, but the trajectory is moving the right way. He played about 25% of the defensive snaps in Weeks 1 and 2, then jumped to around 36% in Weeks 3 and 4.
His first career sack came on a looping stunt against the New York Giants, a nice sign of how the Titans are finding ways to use him. Grade: C+
Fernando Carmona’s situation is a frustrating one for Tennessee. The rookie guard won the right guard job out of camp and looked good over his first three regular-season games before an ankle injury forced him to undergo surgery and land on IR after Week 3.
The Titans are hoping he returns at some point, because he had been playing like the long-term answer at the spot. Grade: B
RB Nicholas Singleton
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A New Concern In Their Passing Game
The Titans passing game picked up a new wrinkle this week when Carnell Tate landed on the injury report with a back issue ahead of Sundays game against the Houston Texans. Tate had been a full participant on Wednesday before being limited on Thursday, a shift that stands out on a roster already dealing with multiple players showing up on the report with assorted injuries.
For Tennessee, the timing matters because Tate has become a meaningful part of the offense as the team tries to keep its attack steady against Houston. The Titans have been monitoring several health questions this week, and Tates status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a passing game that could use as much stability as it can get heading into a divisional matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Carnell Tate Could Put Texans In A Tough Spot Again
Carnell Tates Week 4 breakout gave the Titans another layer to work with, and it came at the right time. The rookie wideout caught nine passes for 145 yards, flashing the kind of versatility that can make an offense harder to pin down when a defense starts keying on where a receiver lines up. Tennessee has already shown a willingness to move Tate around, using him on the boundary and also inside, which has helped expand how the passing game can attack different coverage looks.
That flexibility could matter again soon against Houston, where the Titans are likely to keep searching for favorable matchups by shifting Tate pre-snap and changing his alignment from play to play. If Tennessee can keep defenses guessing about where he will show up, it can force the Texans to sort through more decisions than they may want to make, especially after Tates emergence has given the Titans a young weapon worth building around. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Secondary Suddenly Has A Big Problem Before Texans Game
The Titans secondary took a hit heading into Sundays matchup with the Texans, with Amani Hooker unavailable after not clearing concussion protocol. Hooker has been a key part of Tennessees back end, so his absence changes the look of a group that already had to keep one eye on Houstons passing game this week.
Tony Adams is expected to step into Hookers role, while Isaiah Oliver is likely to be elevated from the practice squad to give the Titans more depth at safety. Cornerback Joshua Williams also returned to practice after being designated to come back from injured reserve, though his game status remains unsettled as Tennessee sorts through its defensive options. [Read more 🡒]