The Tennessee Titans are closing in on the roster-cut deadline, and there’s still plenty to sort out before Sunday. The front office is working through the final pieces of what the 53-man group will look like, but the progress so far doesn’t exactly scream finished product.
That matters because Week 1 is waiting right around the corner, and the opener against the New York Jets is the first real test. The Titans have made the kinds of improvements they need to make, but the source of concern remains the same: there hasn’t been enough forward momentum yet for a team hoping to start fast.
One thing the Titans do have on the horizon is a fresh visual identity. The team revealed new rivalry uniforms that are set to debut in an AFC South matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee will be wearing the updated look throughout the season, a change that fits with the idea of a new era taking shape around the franchise.
Even with the new threads, the football itself still has to catch up. The starting lineup is not where it needs to be, and the preseason finale against the Chicago Bears now carries extra importance. A strong outing there would at least give the Titans a chance to head into the regular season with some real momentum and a cleaner break from what came before.
Elsewhere around the league, the Bears are getting ready for their final preseason date with Tennessee, and the NFL’s rollout of rivalry uniforms has already brought a full look at the AFC South and NFC North sets.
In Other News...
Titans Just Got An Unexpected WR Decision To Make
The Browns decision to move on from Cedric Tillman has suddenly put a young receiver with some untapped intrigue on the market, and that has to be at least a passing consideration for the Titans. Tennessee has been looking for answers in its wideout room, and Tillman fits the kind of profile teams often circle this time of year: a recent draft pick, still looking to establish himself, with enough playmaking flashes to make a front office think twice before letting him get away.
Tillman was a third-round pick in 2022 and had returned to camp after an injury, but Cleveland still chose to release him rather than keep him in the mix. For Tennessee, the question is whether there is enough upside there to justify a look, especially with a roster spot and a potential depth need in play. No move has been reported yet, but it is the sort of decision the Titans could revisit quickly if they want to add another receiver with some developmental appeal. [Read more 🡒]
Titans-Bears Just Put Carnell Tates Family Loyalty In The Spotlight
The Titans preseason finale against the Bears brings a little extra family intrigue to a game that already has some storyline juice for Tennessee. Rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate may see only limited action, but he is still expected to be a key target for quarterback Cam Ward as the Titans continue sorting out their passing game before the regular season arrives.
Tate also comes into the matchup with a personal twist, since he and his father have long been Bears fans. Even with his son now wearing Titans colors, Tates father said he will still be backing Chicago in the preseason meeting, which adds a small but noticeable layer of split loyalties to an otherwise routine August game. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Linebacker Decision They Cant Ignore
The Titans went into the preseason with Cody Barton penciled in as a starting linebacker alongside Cedric Gray, but the competition around that spot has become harder to ignore. Barton has had some slow stretches in exhibition action, while the younger options behind him have started to make a stronger case for themselves. James Williams has flashed, and rookie Anthony Hill has particularly stood out with the kind of active play that tends to get a coaching staffs attention fast.
Hills recent preseason work has included impactful moments, which is exactly the sort of production that can force a depth-chart conversation before the games start to count. Tennessee still has time to sort out how it wants to use its linebacker group, but the contrast is now clear enough: experience is holding the current projection in place, while youthful playmaking is pushing to crack it open. [Read more 🡒]