The Tennessee Titans closed the preseason with a 24-15 loss at home to the Chicago Bears, finishing 2-1 in a game that was mostly about backups and, even more, about what happens next with roster cuts.
That decision point arrives tomorrow night at 5 p.m. CT, when the Titans will reveal who made the team and who didn’t. Saturday’s game didn’t answer every question, but it did sharpen a few of them.
One of the clearest developments came at wide receiver, where Xavier Restrepo appears to have strengthened his grip on the WR6 battle. Restrepo and Bryce Oliver had been viewed as the main contenders for the spot, and Oliver’s recent slide had already given Restrepo momentum. That advantage looked even more real against Chicago.
Oliver did not play, which could be read as a positive sign for his chances given how few starters were used. But that argument gets a lot shakier when you look at the other receivers who did get on the field, including Carnell Tate, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike.
Restrepo made the most of his opportunity, finishing as Tennessee’s top receiver with four catches on six targets for 71 yards. His biggest moment was a 21-yard grab from Will Levis, the kind of play that leaves an impression right when the roster clock is ticking down.
Levis, though, may not have helped himself much. He handled almost all of Tennessee’s snaps at quarterback, but that only underscored the reality that the two rostered openings under center were already spoken for with Cam Ward and Mitch Trubisky sitting out. The setup wasn’t exactly ideal for Levis, especially after he spent the summer trying to build a case following shoulder surgery in May.
Still, his night was solid enough on paper. Levis went 14-of-22 for 143 yards with no turnovers, a line that could at least give another team something to consider if it’s looking for a backup. Nashville, though, does not seem like the likeliest landing spot.
Another player who helped his cause was James Williams. He was one of the surprise cut candidates when July rolled around, but a strong camp and a strong showing against Chicago have pushed him toward safety in a crowded position group.
Williams was credited with Tennessee’s lone close call on defense after punching the ball out of Maurice Alexander’s hands for a forced fumble that Chicago recovered. He also got into the backfield for a tackle for loss early in the game.
The Titans didn’t create a turnover in the loss, and the roster picture still has plenty of moving parts around the edges of Robert Saleh’s defense. But after Saturday night, James Williams looks a lot less like one of them.
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