The Tennessee Titans finally snapped their skid Sunday, beating the Indianapolis Colts 26-20 to end a 10-game losing streak. But the win came with a sharper question hanging over the secondary: where does Alontae Taylor fit now?
Taylor, the offseason cornerback addition, was inactive for the game even though he was healthy. On Monday, head coach Robert Saleh didn’t offer much clarity when asked why Taylor was left out or whether the move was tied to play or discipline.
“We'll discuss it as a staff and make a decision that is best for the team moving forward,” said Saleh when asked about Taylor's future in Tennessee.
That answer only added to the uncertainty around a player Tennessee committed heavily to in March, when it signed Taylor to a three-year, $58 million contract that includes $42 million guaranteed. His benching in Week 6 followed Saleh’s public frustration with Taylor’s Week 5 performance.
The 27-year-old has struggled to make the switch to playing strictly outside corner after handling both boundary and nickel work with the New Orleans Saints. Through five games, the numbers have been rough.
Opponents have completed 21 of 24 passes thrown his way, an 87.5% clip, and those targets have produced a 117.9 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus. Taylor has not logged an interception or a pass breakup for Tennessee.
What makes the move stand out even more is how much he had been on the field. Taylor played 99.7% of the Titans’ defensive snaps over the first five games, so his sudden absence against the Colts was hard to miss.
Joshua Williams stepped in after coming off injured reserve and held up well in his first game back. Williams, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal in March, gives Tennessee another body at corner. Isaiah Oliver was also elevated from the practice squad for game day.
There’s no simple fix waiting here, either. Marcus Harris has been solid as Tennessee’s starting nickel corner, so sliding Taylor inside could just create another lineup decision instead of settling one.
The Titans were aggressive in rebuilding the back end of the defense this offseason. Along with Taylor and Williams, they also brought in Cor'Dale Flott on a three-year, $45 million contract. Still, the takeaway before Sunday had been mixed: the defense had only three interceptions, even while ranking 14th in the league in passing yards allowed per game at 217.8.
Tennessee was also short-handed on defense without starting safety Kevin Winston Jr., who is dealing with a quad injury.
The victory moved the Titans to 1-5 and gave them their first division win since November 2024. They’re set to get back to work Wednesday ahead of their matchup with the Cleveland Browns, and that’s when Taylor’s outlook may start to come into focus.
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