Takeaways From the Titans' Preseason Finale: Screen Success, Roster Battles and More

Put stock in the preseason at your own risk. Brian Callahan is quick to say it himself.

But with their 30-27 win in New Orleans, the Titans capped a 3-0 exhibition season and saw some very encouraging developments Sunday, two weeks before the curtain rises on the meaningful stuff in Chicago.

Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) catches a deep pass from quarterback Will Levis (8) against New Orleans Saints linebacker Anfernee Orji (58) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
  Tyler Boyd/ © Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Most notably, the first team offense played two series together, moving fantastically well against the Saints backups on its first possession with seven first downs, no third downs and a 1-yard Tony Pollard touchdown run. [Unlocked]

The second drive produced a 39-yard Nick Folk field goal and ended Will Levis’ afternoon. He was super-efficient with seven-for-eight passing for 118 yards with no TD, no interception and a 188 passer rating.

The Titans executed three beautiful screens in the first half two by Levis on that first drive.

He hit a 23-yarder to Nick Vannett to the right side with Lloyd Cushenberry and Peter Skoronski timing things up well and getting out in front to lead the tight end. Levis also found Tony Pollard for 13 yards with Skoronski and Dillon Radunz out leading the way.  

Later on a second-and-17 from the Tennessee 18-yard line, Mason Rudolph found Tyjae Spears with a screen at the end of which Spears leaped very high to gain a few extra yards. The 12-yard play got the team into a manageable third-and-5 which it converted en route to a field goal. Skoronski and Radunz also did good work on the Spears screen.

That’s an exciting element of the offense that Pollard and Spears can excel at along with tight ends and receivers.

Weaver vs. Murphy?: Caleb Murphy did not have an impactful camp or preseason and did not see much time very high in the rotation. Rashad Weaver also didn’t make a lot of noise, but he seemed to be the third guy at the position after Harold Landry and Arden Key with rookie Jaylen Harrell coming on fast.

Weaver plays significantly more special teams. Their snap counts on defense were roughly even through two games, and Sunday in the first half Weaver played 19 and Murphy 18 with Murphy actually getting six special teams snaps to Weaver’s four as the Titans clearly wanted to get a bit more of a look.

Thirty players on the Titans were credited with a defensive or special teams stat.

Weaver was not one of them.

Weaver completes the preseason with two tackles and a pass defensed.

Murphy had four tackles, a QB hit and a special teams tackle.

After Landry, Key and Harrell, I think Weaver makes the roster and Murphy lands on the practice squad, but Weaver has certainly failed to make it a no-brainer for the decision-makers.

Speaking of Harrell, he drew two holding penalties and officials missed a third. That is impactful play. He also had a tackle and a QB hit. Right now he looks like an excellent seventh-round find.

Shane Ray had a second-half sack and forced fumble but his overall performance doesn’t seem to warrant a roster spot unless the Titans go heavy at outside linebacker. He has not played in five years.

Huge effort: Thomas Odukoya powered through Johnathan Abram to get to Samson Nacua and force him out of bounds at the Tennessee 3-yard line just before the half.

Nacua returned Braydon Narveson’s 58-yard field goal attempt, which was short, for 106 yards. Odukoya tracked him a long, long way and saved the Titans from what Brian Callahan told the broadcast would have been a “disastrous” play.

The tight end is likely the team’s fifth at the spot where they probably keep four, which means the team will probably use the international exemption that comes with him in order to have a 17th man on the practice squad. Odukoya is from the Netherlands.

They’d have to remove that designation, make him part of the 16 on the practice squad and wait three weeks before they could call him to the 53-man roster.

Bryce Oliver: Undrafted rookie receiver Bryce Oliver from Youngstown State caught two touchdown passes from Malik Willis in the fourth quarter.

Oliver was a steady and productive target for Willis through training camp but never rose on the depth chart, where the top six at the position are pretty locked. Kyle Philips. Mason Kinsey and Kearis Jackson – while all primarily slot receivers – all outrank him based on where they played in practice and games.

All three of those receivers didn’t play in New Orleans because they are hurt.

If the Titans keep a seventh, it will likely be one of those because of his ability to contribute as a returner.

Oliver, meanwhile, seemed destined for a spot on the practice squad even before the excellent preseason finale.

Offensive line: Callahan basically said the right side of the line is locked up with Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle and Dillon Radunz at right guard. 

The second group was, left to right, Jaelyn Duncan, Cole Spencer, Daniel Brunskill, Andrew Rupcich and John Ojukwu. 

The third group had Geron Christian taking over at left tackle and Corey Levin at center.

Leroy Watson and Brian Dooley did not play and I believe they went into the game healthy, so that would make the end for them. Lachavious Simmons got hurt during practice last week and he did not play.

Injuries: Chance Campbell will have an MRI on his left knee. It would be a major disappointment if he’s sidetracked by another injury. He’s had a great camp and preseason and. He’s only played four games in two seasons.

If it winds up something that would keep him out four games or more, the Titans could place him on IR Tuesday as they make roster cuts and designate him for recall. They can do that with up to two players at that time, but they could against the season total of eight recallable players on IR during the season. Those designees won't count against the 53-man roster.

Elijah Molden was being checked for a concussion. The Titans have several guys currently in the protocol: Otis Reese, Josh Whyle and Luke Gifford.

Run defense: The first-team defense was effective, allowing just two first downs,31 yards and forcing two punts against backup QB Jake Haener and Saints reserves.

Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry were not out there for Tennessee.

In all, the first-half defense gave up too much on the ground when the Saints got 54 yards on 10 carries, with Jordan Mims and James Robinson doing the bulk of the work. New Orleans' top three backs – Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller – did not play.