The Tennessee Titans outlasted the San Francisco 49ers 17-13 in their preseason opener Saturday at Nissan Stadium, the first Titans game led by coach Brian Callahan. Quarterback Will Levis led the first-team offense on two touchdown drives before exiting the game, completing 4 of 5 passes and running for a score.
With half of the first-team defense sitting out, the Titans showed more of a blend of veterans and newcomers on that side of the ball, mostly battling to stops as the 49ers struggled to sustain drives after their 79-yard game-opening drive.
Here are The Tennessean’s winners and losers from Saturday’s preseason win.
Winner: The first-team O-line
Levis dropped back six times and was pressured once. And even that pressure was more of a “Levis stepped up and made a good throw” than a situation where he had to make a hero-ball play to avoid being sacked. It doesn’t take an elephant’s memory to know that’s not how things tended to go for Levis last season.
Combine the improved pass protection with a couple of nice blocks by the right side of the line on the second touchdown drive and Saturday was a big win for the Titans’ most-maligned unit. It wasn’t perfect; there was an ugly tackle for loss resulting from a miscommunication in the first quarter. But when it’s easier to count the small number of mistakes than the bigger number of clean plays, that’s a tremendous upgrade.
Loser: OLB Shane Ray
The Titans signed Ray, an NFL and CFL veteran who has been on championship teams, to add depth for a unit lacking just that. But Saturday, Ray mainly stood on the sideline while rookie Jaylen Harrell and second-year player Caleb Murphy took first-half reps.
It’s no surprise that Harold Landry III, Arden Key and Rashad Weaver are ahead of Ray on the depth chart. But Ray not leaping ahead of the youngsters isn’t a strong endorsement from the coaching staff.
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Winner: ILB Chance Campbell
Kenneth Murray II and Jack Gibbens played only one series. Cedric Gray and JoJo Domann didn’t dress. Garret Wallow is already headed for injured reserve. Luke Gifford landed in the concussion protocol after the opening kickoff. The Titans were thin at inside linebacker, giving Campbell, Otis Reese IV and James Williams extended looks.
Campbell made the most of his opportunity with eight tackles, including a sack, and had an interception with 1 second left in the game. Reese had four tackles as well, but the fact that one of Campbell’s plays was on special teams is an added boost for a player who’ll have to make special teams plays to stick on the roster as a reserve.
Loser: John Ojukwu
Geron Christian Sr. and Jaelyn Duncan lined up as the second-team tackles, extending Ojukwu’s week-long tumble down the depth chart. Ten days ago, Ojukwu was the starting right tackle. Now he’s on the third team, looking like an outsider in the battle to earn the swing tackle job.
The battles at these spots are ongoing, and he very well could earn his way back into the rotation this week. But the depth chart positioning Saturday didn’t favor Ojukwu.
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Winner: Sideline energy all around
Calvin Ridley came off the field after his 22-yard first-quarter catch, took his helmet off and immediately started jumping and hugging rookie receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, engaging in mutual congratulations following Ridley’s long run after catch set up by Jackson’s nice punt return.
Murray was a constant presence in sideline celebrations as well, mobbing Campbell coming off the field after his backup’s sack. Safety Elijah Molden changed out of his gear after halftime into street clothes, but he was still huddling with safeties Mike Brown and Matthew Jackson between drives, sharing coaching points.
Morale seems high. That’s consistent with everything players have talked about since the Callahan hire, and it’s a nice step toward the Titans being a fun team to watch.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 14:55:00
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