The Titans head into 2026 with a second-year quarterback, a new coaching staff and real optimism about the offense. Still, one of the biggest questions hanging over camp is right in the middle of the line.
ESPN has pegged Tennessee’s center battle as one of the NFL’s most interesting training camp competitions, and it’s easy to see why. The job is unsettled, the candidates are varied, and the outcome could shape more than just the starting five up front.
Head coach Robert Saleh said Austin Schlottmann will open with the first team at center. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo gives him a clear edge early on.
But the race is far from closed. Rookie Pat Coogan and veteran Andre James are both in the mix, and James arrived late in minicamp with plenty of experience to lean on.
He has 61 career starts, well ahead of Schlottmann’s 18, and he also worked with Bricillo with the Raiders. Coogan is considered a long shot to win the job, but he is viewed as a virtual lock to make the roster.
That leaves the veteran who loses the competition in a dangerous spot, with his place on the 53-man roster suddenly far from secure.
That’s what makes this such a meaningful decision for Tennessee. The Titans are counting on protecting QB Cam Ward, even though they didn’t add a settled answer at center during the offseason. Schlottmann came in as a free agent to follow Daboll and help with the offense, but his limited résumé and the fact that he’s 30 make him anything but a sure bet.
James’ arrival only raises the heat on Schlottmann, who is trying to win a full-time starting job for the first time in his career. And with Coogan in the picture as a young developmental option, the Titans have built a competition where every snap matters. As padded practices begin this week, the center spot figures to be one of the most closely watched battles in camp.
In Other News...
Elic Ayomanor Is Pushing For A Titans Role That Matters
Training camp in pads tends to sort out who is really ready for the grind, and Robert Saleh said the Titans got a good reminder of that during a physical practice. The early days can be rough as players adjust, but Saleh singled out Elic Ayomanor for standing out after a strong offseason and a strong showing once the pads came on.
Ayomanor flashed promise as a rookie, yet the next step is still about doing it with more consistency. Saleh made clear that path matters, because if Ayomanor can keep building on what he has shown, he could push his way into a starting role that would give Tennessees offense a needed lift. [Read more 🡒]
Jeffery Simmons Put Robert Salehs Titans Standard On Full Display
Jeffery Simmons gave the Titans a useful reminder during practice of what this new standard is supposed to look like under Robert Saleh. After Simmons threw a punch during the session, Saleh wasted little time sending the defensive tackle to the side fields for the rest of the workout, treating the act the same way the team would in a game setting. Simmons still got his projected reps away from the main field, but the message was clear: the rules apply in practice too.
Saleh said the policy is straightforward, and it fits the culture the Titans are trying to build. For a veteran player like Simmons, the response matters as much as the moment itself, because the team is asking everyone to buy into a more disciplined approach from the start. The incident did not turn into a bigger scene, but it served as an early example of how firmly Saleh plans to enforce his expectations. [Read more 🡒]