The Tennessee Titans are heading into 2026 with a roster that looks different in a lot of places, but the AFC South still doesn’t look like a division where they can coast anywhere. Mike Borgonzi has spent the offseason rebuilding, and the Titans want that work to show up in a real way this year. The problem is simple: Houston, Jacksonville and Indianapolis still give them plenty of ground to make up.
That’s why the conversation starts at quarterback, where Tennessee is betting on Cam Ward to keep growing. The Titans think they’ve found their franchise guy, and with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in place, the plan is to get more out of Ward in his sophomore season.
There’s reason for optimism there, but not enough to push him past Trevor Lawrence, who remains the division’s top quarterback after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025. CJ Stroud comes next, even with the inconsistency that has followed him.
Daniel Jones has his own case after opening last season well before an Achilles tear changed everything, but Ward’s upside still gives Tennessee a real foothold in the middle of the pack.
At running back, the Titans are staying with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, a pair that fits the same description: useful, versatile, and not exactly headline-grabbing. Daboll thinks he can squeeze more out of both in 2026, which matters because Tennessee is banking on efficiency here more than star power.
Jonathan Taylor sits alone at the top of the division after another Pro Bowl résumé. The Texans’ mix of David Montgomery and sophomore Woody Marks lands them ahead of Tennessee as well, while Jacksonville’s unknown pairing of Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez trails Pollard and Spears.
The wide receiver room is where Tennessee can make its strongest argument for progress, even if the group still lacks a proven alpha. Fourth overall pick Carnell Tate brings rookie buzz, Wan'Dale Robinson adds steadiness, and Calvin Ridley along with Elic Ayomanor gives the Titans a deeper rotation than they’ve had in a while.
Sophomore tight end Gunnar Helm is also expected to take a step. Still, the top of the division belongs elsewhere.
Jacksonville can point to Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr., with Brenton Strange at tight end, while Houston has Nico Collins, a true star. Indianapolis, meanwhile, is stuck with a group featuring Alec Pierce, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, though Tyler Warren at tight end helps.
Up front, Tennessee has a lot to prove. The Titans gave up a league-high 55 sacks on Ward last season, and that kind of number hangs over everything.
They’ve tried to patch things by adding center Austin Schlottmann and fifth-round rookie Fernando Carmona as new starters on the interior, but this is still a line that needs to show it can hold up. The Colts have the most dependable group in the division, led by Quenton Nelson.
Jacksonville still has its own issues, but Tennessee doesn’t have the same level of reliable starters. Houston also needs better play from sophomore left tackle Aireontae Ersery, and rookie Keylan Rutledge has to hit quickly to calm some of those concerns.
Defensively, the Titans may have their best chance to stand out in the front seven. Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers give them a strong interior foundation, and with Robert Saleh overseeing the unit, players like Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin, Cedric Gray and Keldric Faulk are expected to fit the system and make plays.
Houston still owns the division’s best defensive line thanks to Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter off the edge. Jacksonville’s Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are dangerous too, but losing linebacker Devin Lloyd hurts.
Indianapolis has DeForest Buckner, yet the rest of its front seven hasn’t done enough to climb out of the bottom spot.
The secondary is the biggest unknown for Tennessee. Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor were brought in to start at cornerback, with Amani Hooker and Kevin Winston Jr. at safety.
It’s a brand-new look, and concerns from training camp and the preseason leave plenty of questions heading into the season. Houston looks strongest here, with Jalen Pitre, Kamari Lassiter, Calen Bullock and Derek Stingley Jr. forming a loaded group.
Indianapolis counters with Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward at corner and Cam Bynum at safety, while Jacksonville gets a boost from Travis Hunter in a full-time corner role and the return of Montaric Brown.
In Other News...
Titans Lose A Key Defensive Piece Right Before Jets Opener
Cedric Grays Week 1 status changed in an instant, and not in the direction the Titans wanted. The linebacker entered concussion protocol after a UTV accident and has already been ruled out for Sundays opener against the Jets, leaving Tennessee to reshuffle a defense that was counting on him to be part of the early-season foundation.
Grays absence puts more pressure on the backups and rookies who now have to absorb snaps in a game where every early detail matters. The good news for Tennessee is that the rest of the roster is healthy, and the Jets are dealing with their own injury issues heading into the matchup, but Grays availability remains the storyline to watch beyond this one week. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Dabolls Plan For Cam Ward Is Becoming Very Clear
From the start of the offseason and into the preseason, the Titans have made their preference pretty obvious: keep the offense on schedule, avoid turnovers and make the easy throw the first answer. Brian Dabolls approach has leaned toward short completions and efficient runs, with the idea being to spare Cam Ward from too many third-and-long situations while giving the quarterback a steadier runway to grow.
That mindset has also shaped how the backfield and pass catchers are being used, with the offense showing a clear lean toward checkdowns and quick hitters rather than constant shots downfield. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears fit neatly into that plan, and so does a slot target like Wan'Dale Robinson, but the bigger question is how far Daboll is willing to take the conservative approach once the games count and Wards development starts demanding more than just safe completions. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Fans Just Got A Painful Chris Johnson Ring Of Honor Reminder
The Titans were already planning a heartfelt tribute to Chris Johnson this season, but the timing around it has shifted. Tennessee has postponed the formal Ring of Honor induction ceremony for the former running back because his family is unable to travel to Nashville for the season opener, though the team still intends to recognize him at halftime.
Johnsons place in franchise history is secure, but the adjustment adds another layer of emotion to a celebration that was always going to carry extra weight. Diagnosed with ALS and having revealed his condition publicly earlier this year, Johnson remains a beloved figure in Titans history, and the team will still have a chance to honor him in front of the home crowd even if the full ceremony comes later. [Read more 🡒]