The Titans head to Baltimore in Week 4 carrying more than a 0-3 record and a familiar sense of urgency. This one has all the ingredients of a heavy, emotional road game, and Tennessee can’t afford to let any of that spill into the football itself.
There’s also the wrinkle that makes this matchup stand out even more: Derrick Henry is set to face the Titans for the first time. For Tennessee, it’s another twist in a rivalry that has already had plenty of them.
When the Titans line up, several spots appear settled. Cam Ward is expected to start at quarterback, Gunnar Helm at tight end, and the defensive line should feature Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, Jacob Martin, and Jermaine Johnson.
In the secondary, Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott are projected to start at corner, with Marcus Harris in the nickel role. Joey Slye is the expected kicker, Tommy Townsend the punter, and Morgan Cox the long snapper.
The biggest question mark sits at running back. Tyjae Spears is dealing with a shoulder injury and is officially questionable.
Robert Saleh said Spears will need to clear a few hurdles to play, so this one could go right down to kickoff. If Spears can’t suit up, rookie Nick Singleton should see a bigger slice of the workload.
Tennessee also has some decisions to make at receiver, where Ayomanor has quietly pushed himself into the No. 3 spot through three weeks. He hasn’t blown the doors off the league, and there are still plays he’d probably want back, but the growth has been obvious. Last Sunday, he was on the field for 48 snaps, compared with Calvin Ridley’s 20, and there’s little reason to think that usage will change anytime soon.
Right guard is where the injury situation has really tightened the screws. Fernando Carmona and Jackson Slater are both on injured reserve, which forced the Titans to bring Garrett Dellinger up to the active roster to help steady the spot.
Now Dellinger is dealing with an illness of his own and is listed as questionable. Saleh has stayed guarded all week, but this may open the door for the rookie.
Coogan’s natural spot is center, so there could be some rough edges if he gets the call, but the upside is part of the appeal. The expectation here is that Coogan gets the nod, though Dellinger would still be in play if he’s healthy enough to go.
At linebacker, the Titans may finally get a longer look at the Hill-Gray pairing. Last week, Barton played 44 snaps to Gray’s 30, but Saleh has made it clear he wants Gray on the field more, and this could be the week that plan takes hold.
There’s one more injury situation to monitor on the defensive side. Winston did not practice Friday because of a shoulder issue and is listed as questionable, but Saleh didn’t sound overly worried earlier in the week.
The lean here is that Winston plays. If he doesn’t, Tony Adams would be next up at safety.
In Other News...
Titans Walk Into Baltimore Facing A Derrick Henry Problem Again
Baltimore brings the old problem right back onto Tennessees schedule, with Derrick Henry set to face the Titans after moving on from the franchise following the 2023 season. Since joining the Ravens, Henry has been piling up the kind of rushing production that once made him the centerpiece of the Titans offense, and now Tennessee has to deal with him from the other sideline.
For Robert Salehs group, the challenge is familiar even if the uniform is different: find a way to slow a runner who still forces defenses to commit extra attention while Tennessee keeps pushing forward with Cam Wards development. The Titans task gets tougher up front, too, with two injured offensive linemen now on injured reserve, leaving less margin for error in a matchup already shaped by one of the leagues most familiar headaches. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Keep Finding Painful New Ways To Waste Their Chances
The Titans are already in a familiar and uncomfortable place after four weeks, and the latest loss to Baltimore only added to the growing list of small failures that have turned into big problems. Tennessee had chances to keep itself in the game, but the afternoon kept tilting the wrong way, from special teams mistakes to a late interception that undercut any hope of a rally. Former Titan Derrick Henry also found the end zone, another painful reminder that even the good moments have a way of slipping out of reach.
What makes the slide harder to watch is how many different phases have taken turns letting Tennessee down. The offense faded badly in the second half, while Brian Dabolls decisions were part of the broader conversation around how the game unraveled. Even Carnell Tate, who turned in a notable performance, was part of the story in a way the Titans could not afford after a costly fumble, and the result left them still searching for their first win. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Face A Real Tony Pollard Trade Decision
The Titans 0-3 start has already pushed them toward seller territory, and that means every veteran on the roster is suddenly part of the conversation. Tony Pollard is one of the most interesting names in that mix. With Tennessee expected to listen ahead of the NFL trade deadline and Pollard playing on the final year of his contract, ESPNs Adam Schefter has pointed to the running back as a likely candidate to move if the Titans decide to reshape the roster.
Pollards situation is especially notable because running back help can be hard to find for contenders this time of year, and a few teams could fit that description. The Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings are among the clubs that could be looking for help in the backfield, which gives Tennessee a potential market if it chooses to deal him. The bigger question is whether the Titans prefer to keep a proven contributor in place or turn an early losing streak into a chance to collect future value. [Read more 🡒]