Titans DC Dennard Wilson makes a bold guarantee for Week 1 vs. Bears

NASHVILLE - There is a lot we still don’t know about the 2024 Tennessee Titans. The initial 53-man roster won’t even be set until next week.

But Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is giving Titans fans one thing they can be sure of.

According to Wilson in his press conference on Tuesday, Titans cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie are locks to play against the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

“I have no doubt in my mind that they’ll be ready to play in Chicago," said Wilson despite the fact that Sneed and Awuzie have both been out for a majority of training camp.

With Sneed, his absence is strictly due to load management. Sneed has a pre-existing knee issue from his time in Kansas City that didn’t keep him out of any games in 2023, but required him to go on a very intentional program for training camp and practices.

Awuzie has a calf injury suffered during the first week of training camp. He has not been on the practice field since. While Brian Callahan initially only projected Sneed to only miss a few weeks, the Titans staff believes in being extra careful with calf injuries.

It’s a big guarantee from Wilson, but it makes sense given the timeline for Awuzie’s recovery and the nature of Sneed’s absence.

That said, there is a case to be made that the Titans won’t have their full defense playing snaps together until Week 1 in Chicago. The secondary has not been particularly strong and the depth of the entire defense remains a legitimate concern. With all of the changes that have taken place in Tennessee this year and all the new faces in Wilson’s defense, no preseason reps for Sneed and Awuzie feels like a missed opportunity.

Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry III, and Kenneth Murray Jr. have been sitting out of the preseason as well.

If we are to listen to the Titans’ defensive coordinator, Sneed and Awuzie will 100 percent be out there for Week 1. But that doesn’t mean Tennessee’s defense will be at it's best to start the regular season. Even without injuries, there could be some growing pains.

Related: The path for Titans bubble players to make the 53-man roster ahead of NFL roster cut day