Football is finally back in Music City as the San Francisco 49ers travel to square off with the Tennessee Titans in the preseason opener.
Titans fans are rightfully enthusiastic to take in the action with so many new faces donning the two-tone blue for the first time. Head coach Brian Callahan revealed that most of the Titans starters will play but likely won't stay out there beyond a series or two, which opens the door for some of the younger players and those jockeying for roster spots in highly competitive position battles.
Players Callahan mentioned that will be held out of the contest include DeAndre Hopkins, Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry, and Chidobe Awuzie. L'Jarius Sneed and Jamal Adams are likely to also miss the contest, while rookie linebacker Cedric Gray is questionable with a shoulder injury.
Once the starters are pulled, the real fun starts. Here is a list of five Titans players fans should keep an eye on as the game progresses.
The fight for the sixth, and potentially final, wide receiver spot on the Titans roster will likely be determined based upon preseason performance. Philips is jockeying with Mason Kinsey and sixth-round rookie Jha'Quan Jackson to earn a role in Callahan's offense. Injuries and inconsistencies have made for a rocky start to Philips' career, but with a strong preseason performance he can begin to separate himself from the competition.
Reports out of training camp suggest Willis has taken major strides heading into his third year of his career. The Titans brought in Mason Rudolph to serve as the team's backup behind Will Levis, but Willis will have plenty of opportunities to earn his spot on the roster as the third quarterback.
Fans noticed Willis as one of the primary standouts in the Titans' open practice at Nissan Stadium. The athleticism is undeniable, but Willis needs to prove that he can hang in the pocket and make timely throws.
RB Jabari Small
The running back out of Tennessee will have a steep mountain to climb to make the team's 53-man roster, but opportunities should be plentiful. The battle for the Titans third running back figures to be between Hassan Haskins and Julius Chestnut, but Small will be a player that could excite in the second half.
With Sneed and Awuzie likely sidelined, Brownlee should see plenty of action. Brownlee has made life tough on Titans receivers throughout training camp, but now has an opportunity to do so against a formidable group in San Francisco.
With the ability to play inside and out, Brownlee could position himself to be the next man up in the cornerbacks room should something happen to one of the starters. Expect the fifth-round pick out of Louisville to make a few plays on the football in the first half.
Harrell is in an interesting position after being selected out of Michigan in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Harrell led the national champion Wolverines in sacks last season, but now enters a curious mix of pass rushers looking to carve out roles for themselves with Arden Key's six-game suspension looming.
Callahan has praised the rookie as having been "fantastic" in camp up to this point. If Harrell can get to the quarterback, he will have a chance to compete for snaps with Rashad Weaver and Shane Ray as training camp moves along.
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