Bleav in Titans

Officially, the Tennessee Titans are 4-1 in home games this season, but with their 17-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, they improved to 4-0 in games played at Nissan Stadium (they were the "home" team in their loss to Baltimore in London). Only three other teams have not lost in their own stadiums this year, and they are all good ones. ... Rookie quarterback Will Levis did not have his best game against the Panthers, but it wasn't his worst either. He had one really good half. What he did not have was a turnover. On balance, the decision to play him instead of veteran Ryan Tannehill continues to look wise. ... Running backs were not a hot commodity during last year's free-agent signing period. There will be plenty of them available in 2024, including Derrick Henry, and that scenario is one reason -- among several -- to think that Henry and the Titans could agree on another contract that will keep him around past this season, which is the final one on his current deal. ... The first time the Titans played the Indianapolis Colts this season, quarterback Garnder Minshew replaced an injured Anthony Richardson and led a Colts offense that generated more than 400 total yards, including nearly half that total with the running game. This time, Tennessee players and coaches have the opportunity to prepare for Minshew and the challenges he presents.

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Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was the latest disappointing performance by the Tennessee Titans. The offensive line and defensive backfield continued to struggle, and the Titans had to resort to trick plays to score touchdowns. ... With three straight losses and 14 in the last 17 games, dating back to last season, coach Mike Vrabel has started to face questions about his job security. He does have a record of success with the Titans, a seemingly solid relationship with controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and a plan for the future. With seven games remaining, though, there are plenty of opportunities to eat away at all of that equity. ... With the loss to Jacksonville, there is now almost zero chance for Tennessee to make the playoffs. That will test the resolve of the players and the creativity of the coaching staff as everyone works to stay motivated. ... Motivation won't be a problem for rookie quarterback Will Levis, who fell out of the first round in April's draft. In this one, he will face another rookie quarterback, Bryce Young, the player the Panthers deemed was the best available when they selected him first overall.

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The Tennessee Titans' offensive line has been a liability all season. It got even worse Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when an ankle injury kept right guard Daniel Brunskill out of action and a concussion sidelined left tackle Andre Dillard early in the contest. The makeshift unit did not protect quarterback Will Levis or open holes for running back Derrick Henry well enough for the offense to do much of anything. ... Levis, making his third start, had by far his worst performance to date but was hardly to blame given the pressure he faced throughout the day. It is tough to imagine the rookie signal caller will do much better if his protection does not improve. ... Speaking of Henry, the veteran running back actually leads the AFC and is second in the NFL in rushing yards despite the shortcomings of those whose job it is to open holes for him. ... Even with the issues on offense, the Titans still have the same touchdown ratio and point differential as a team with a 6-3 record, which shows that the defense does enough almost every week to give the team a chance at victory. ... The only team in the AFC with a worse record than Tennessee is the New England Patriots, and there is talk that if that team fires coach Bill Belichick, Tennessee's Mike Vrabel would be the first choice of owner Robert Kraft to take over there.

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After two starts in place of injured Ryan Tannehill, rookie Will Levis was named the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. In a victory over Atlanta and a loss to Pittsburgh, the second-round draft pick from Kentucky has shown a strong arm and a willingness to stand in the pocket to get the ball deep down the field. It is a skill set that meshes well with the current offensive plan, and one that the team now (apparently) plans to use for years to come. ... Tannehill, who is in the final year of his contract, is now effectively done as Tennessee's quarterback. His tenure currently consists of exactly the same number of games played (63) and starts (61) for the Titans as the man he replaced, Marcus Mariota. Statistically speaking, the difference between the two was not as pronounced as most would expect. The biggest difference was in their records. ... Levis will have to work behind an offensive line that has not consistently protected either quarterback this season. And with tackles Nicholas Petit-Frere and Chris Hubbard and right guard Daniel Brunskill dealing with injuries, it could be a backup-heavy unit that plays Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of those backups is Dillon Radunz, a second-round pick in 2021 who could fill in almost anywhere but never has played in a way that suggests coaches have confidence in him. ... The game against the Buccaneers is on the road, and the Titans have yet to win a game outside of Nissan Stadium this season. Is there any reason to expect this week will be different?

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Rookie Will Levis started at quarterback in place of the injured Ryan Tannehill on Sunday and led the Tennessee Titans to a 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons with four touchdown passes, including three to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ... Levis was particularly effective with deep throws, as evidenced by the fact that three of Tennessee's touchdowns came on plays of more than 30 yards. That ability to throw – and complete – the deep ball exploited the risks defenses take when they load up to stop running back Derrick Henry, which could mean that the Titans will want to bring back Henry next season. ... With a short week to prepare for Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Levis is all but guaranteed to start once again this week. His performance against the Falcons, however, also led coach Mike Vrabel to alter his earlier stance that Tannehill unequivocally would return as the starter once he is healthy. ... What is certain is that second-year quarterback Malik Willis looks to have little future with Tennessee. It didn't help that his first snap against the Falcons resulted in a turnover (a lost fumble). ... Tannehill was a name mentioned prominently ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, particularly after Levis' debut. But the Titans did not deal their veteran quarterback or anyone else in the final days and hours when such moves were allowed. It was an unexpected approach after they sent safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles a week earlier and altered the perception of what franchise officials wanted to accomplish by moving on from Byard, one of the leaders of the defense.

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Coming out of the open date in their schedule, the Tennessee Titans traded safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for one veteran safety, Terrell Edmunds, and two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft (one each in the fifth and sixth rounds). A third-round selection in the 2016 draft, Byard never missed a game with Tennessee, earned two Pro Bowl invitations and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. ... Coach Mike Vrabel says the Byard deal is not related to the Titans' record (2-4), but common sense suggests it is the first move for a franchise that will be a "seller" ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline. Speculation already is rampant regarding possible destinations for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. But they are not the only ones who could be moved. ... Not long ago, it seemed unthinkable that the Titans would want to be without Byard, but first-year general manager Ran Carthon has seemingly had a different view of a player who has been a reliable leader and performer on and off the field. So, it's possible that this separation ultimately was inevitable. ... The subject of who else will be traded is not the only uncertainty around the Titans at the moment. With Tannehill still slowed by an ankle injury, questions about who will lead the offense Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons are plentiful. An NFL.com report says that rookie Will Levis will start in place of Tannehill, but Vrabel maintains that Malik Willis also will play, and it is possible the two could alternate on a snap-by-snap basis. ... Is Levis' insertion into the starting role a temporary situation or does it signal the end of Tannehill's time as Tennessee's quarterback?

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At 2-4, the Tennessee Titans are last in the AFC South, and only two teams in the conference have a worse record. With the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline approaching, many will look at Tennessee as a team likely to unload players. Among those in the final year of their contracts who would be appealing to current playoff contenders are running back Derrick Henry, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and defensive lineman Denico Autry. ... Part of the current predicament is a product of back-to-back drafts (2020 and 2021) that produced little in the way a regular or meaningful contributors at a time when players selected in those years should be in their primes. ... Speaking of Tannehill, an ankle injury forced him to finish Sunday's game on the sideline and created uncertainty about his availability for the next contest, Oct. 29 against Atlanta. Coach Mike Vrabel said that Tannehill will play if he's healthy. But if he is not, that means either Malik Willis or Will Levis will get the call, and Vrabel was not willing to say which way he would go in that case. ... There were a couple of in-game lineup changes against the Ravens based solely on performance. One starter got back on the field and finished the contest. The other did not, which likely means he has lost his starting spot for good. ... The Philadelphia Eagles, who have had much more success than the Titans this season, have taken a page from Tennessee's 2021 personnel playbook. In other words, Philadelphia replicated a move that Tennessee made two years earlier. Chances are, it can't turn out worse for the Eagles than it did for the Titans.

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A big reason the Tennessee Titans have a losing record five weeks into the 2023 NFL season is that they have had trouble scoring touchdowns, particularly when they get close to the goal line. The Titans rank 26th in points scored and are tied for 29th in red zone percentage. Personnel issues, no doubt, are part of the problem, but this is not the first time their offensive coordinator has directed an attack that has performed sub-standard in this regard. ... Fourth-year cornerback Kristian Fulton continues to look like anything but the player he was during his first three seasons. Coach Mike Vrabel admitted he even thought about benching Fulton in Sunday's loss at Indianapolis. If things don't get better -- and soon -- it almost certainly will mean a change. ... Fulton is not the only one struggling. According to the panel, others in need of a wake-up call include the face of the offense, a stalwart on defense and a second-year player who has not taken the expected step forward. ... The Titans will wait until late in the week before they travel to London and won't have a lot of time to acclimate themselves to their surroundings and the time change. Their opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, took a decidedly different approach to this contest. What, if anything, will it all mean when the teams meet on the field Sunday?

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The Tennessee Titans are 0-2 on the road and 2-0 at home following last Sunday's 27-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Their latest performance was a complete reversal of the one that preceded it, right down to the fact that they reversed the score (they lost 27-3 at Cleveland in Week 3). So, what do we know about the Titans after four games? ... Nicholas Petit-Frere was one of multiple NFL players whose gambling-related suspension was reduced to four games last week from the original six. As a result, last season's starter at right tackle is back on the practice field and is eligible to play this Sunday at Indianapolis. It is possible, though, that if he is back in the lineup, it will be at a different spot given how well Chris Hubbard, who wasn't signed until after the start of training camp, has played in his place. ... Another player who might be back in action this week is second-year wide receiver Kyle Philips, who spent the first four weeks on injured reserve. Philips' addition to the attack was highly anticipated a year ago, but injuries have kept him out of action for the majority of his NFL career to date. ... Indianapolis' rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson presents a unique challenge for Tennessee's defense this week. Richardson's ability to run and questions about his proficiency as a passer will dictate a specific, less aggressive approach from Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and the rest of the defensive front. But in this case, less from the pass rush ultimately could mean more.

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In their third game of the 2023 season, the Tennessee Titans looked like the same team that lost at New Orleans in Week 1 and not the one that defeated the Los Angeles Chargers. Specifically, the offensive line struggled to create opportunities to run or throw the ball, and the pass defense allowed too many big plays at too many key moments. ... Left guard Peter Skoronski is likely to miss at least one more game due to an appendectomy and no personnel changes appear imminent along the offensive line, and it is not if there are many attractive options. ... Left tackle Andre Dilliard has struggled as much as anyone, particularly in pass protection. It is a disappointing start for a player who was such a high priority in free agency despite a limited history of actual production in the NFL. ... Last year's right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has three games remaining on his suspension. HIs eventual return could be the impetus for change, if it is to happen. ... Two former Titans tackles are available as free agents but neither is a legitimate possibility for an addition. ... Cornerback Kristian Fulton has struggled mightily on pass defense as opposing quarterbacks have completed seven of eight passes thrown at him, which is unexpected given his play in previous seasons. Fulton also has missed a game with a hamstring injury, which is all too familiar given the injuries he has experienced in recent seasons. ... At 1-2, the Titans will host the Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) on Sunday. Cincinnati is 3-0 against Tennessee in the five-plus seasons that Mike Vrabel has been the Titans' head coach. The Bengals also have a roster that should be able to exploit the obvious weaknesses in Tennessee's play to this point.

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