When the Tennessee Titans line up against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the biggest problem waiting on the other side of the ball is Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals defensive tackle arrived from the New York Giants in the offseason, and Tennessee offensive coordinator Brian Daboll knows exactly what kind of challenge he brings. Daboll faced Lawrence before, and he didn’t sugarcoat the assignment when asked about him during his weekly media availability.
“Dexter Lawrence, amongst, I mean, there’s a lot of good players; they’ve added a group of guys: Amante, Allen, Cook; I mean, they’re a veteran group in a lot of areas. Al’s done a great job. But, you know, it’s hard; he’s a hard man to block, and that’s where it starts,” he said.
That’s the kind of matchup that can wreck a game plan fast, especially for a Titans offense that has had its issues up front in the run game. With Cam Ward still dealing with inconsistency this season, Tennessee’s margin for error is thin.
There was at least one encouraging sign last week against the Cleveland Browns, when Tony Pollard got going and helped keep the Titans in the game late. But this week brings a much tougher test, and Tennessee’s path to an upset looks pretty clear: run the ball, control the line of scrimmage, and find a way to keep a game-wrecker from taking over.
That task gets even harder with Carnell Tate out because of a shoulder injury. Without their leading receiver, the Titans need to lean even more heavily on the ground game if they want to pull this one off.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Loom In The Race For A Rising 2027 Quarterback
A fresh ESPN poll of 25 NFL scouts and executives has already started to reshape the early 2027 quarterback conversation, and Oklahoma States Drew Mestemaker is now the name drawing the most support as the class leader. Just a few weeks ago, the early favorite discussion leaned more toward Dante Moore and Arch Manning, but the latest read from league evaluators suggests Mestemaker has moved into a stronger position as teams begin to map out future quarterback plans.
For the Titans, that kind of early shift matters because the draft board can change quickly, and quarterback-needy clubs are already being sorted into rough landing spots based on current roster needs and recent trades. Tennessee is the sort of team that will be watching this race closely, even if the order is far from settled, since the next year and a half of development and evaluation could still redraw the entire picture before the 2027 draft arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Trade Suddenly Raises An Uncomfortable Question About What They Gave Up
Jeffery Simmons move from Tennessee to Chicago did more than shake up the Titans roster. It also put a spotlight on how quickly the trade market can shift when a player of that caliber becomes available, especially after the Titans had initially denied they were looking to deal him. The situation has only added to the sense that this was not a straightforward transaction, but one shaped by timing, leverage and the kind of behind-the-scenes relationships that often decide where star players land.
Reports that Giants coach John Harbaugh directly reached out to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk to try to land Simmons only deepen the intrigue around what Tennessee ultimately accepted. In a league where personal connections can matter as much as draft capital, the obvious question now is whether the Titans truly got the best possible return. For a team trying to manage both its present and future, that is the uncomfortable part of the story that lingers after the deal is done. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Scramble To Patch Two Problem Spots Before Bengals Game
The Titans had to make a pair of quick practice-squad moves heading into Sundays game at Paycor Stadium, elevating wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and punter Thomas Morstead for the Week 8 matchup with the Bengals. The timing speaks for itself, with rookie Carnell Tate ruled out because of a shoulder injury and starter Tommy Townsend sidelined by a left knee injury.
Restrepo gives Tennessee another option at receiver at a time when the group is already being reshuffled, while Morstead steps in to handle punting duties if Townsend cannot go. For a team trying to keep things steady on the road, the special teams adjustment is just as important as the depth chart change on offense, and it leaves the Titans with a couple of moving parts to sort out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]