Titans Wire https://titanswire.usatoday.com Get the latest Titans news, schedule, photos and rumors from Titans Wire, the best Titans blog available Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:43:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.5 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2017/01/cropped-favicon_titanswire-1.png?w=32 Titans Wire https://titanswire.usatoday.com 32 32 181662195 Predicting Titans' captains for 2024 NFL season https://titanswire.usatoday.com/lists/predicting-titans-captains-for-2024-nfl-season/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:43:07 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?post_type=listicle&p=149377

The Tennessee Titans are nearing the end of their preseason schedule. Brian Callahan’s club will have one final tune-up before the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears.

Following this Sunday’s exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints, the Titans will vote on the team’s leadership group for the 2024 NFL season. Callahan noted that the team captains will wear the “C” patch on their uniforms, as Jim Wyatt reported on Wednesday.

Here is a look at our predictions for which players might don the captaincy this season.

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149377 Syndication: The Tennessean
Will Levis feels comfortable with Titans catalog of plays https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/tennessee-quarterback-will-levis-feels-comfortable-with-titans-catalog-of-plays/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 20:30:18 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149371 Making mistakes is part of life. We all make mistakes every day, minor or major, and find ways to correct those mistakes. It’s no different on the football field, especially for a young quarterback like Tennessee Titans’ QB Will Levis.

There’s no shame in making a mistake, but we have to learn from those mistakes to avoid making the same mistake twice. Levis spoke with reporters after practice on Wednesday to discuss how he recovers from mistakes and how he attempts to avoid making them again.

“I think it’s like when you’re given those tools to do those things for the first time, you can second-guess yourself pretty easily when you don’t have the background of doing it in your past,” Levis said. “But I think I have a good enough handle on it to know when things are messed up and what could possibly get us out of that situation.”

He discusses how head coach Brian Callahan does a great job of letting him know where specific issues lay on a given play and that he feels comfortable with the Titans’ catalog of plays in their pocket.

“I think game-plan-wise, Calli(Callahan) will do a great job, too, of letting me know what my issues are on that play. I think it will be more like a, ‘Hey, if we get this specific look on this, it’s not gonna work, let’s think about getting into something else.’ So having that catalog of things to get to based on whatever personnel is out there on the field, based on whatever the coverage we think it is, I think I feel comfortable with doing that, and I’m looking forward to getting to that point where it becomes more natural.”

Levis is doing all the right things as a young quarterback. He’s soaking up all the information everyone is feeding him and turning it into actual production on the field. The Titans have a lot to look forward to in 2024.

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149371 Syndication: The Tennessean
Titans' Jeffery Simmons budding NFL insider? https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/tennessee-titans-jeffery-simmons-budding-nfl-insider/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:37:11 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149369 Move over Adam Schefter, Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons unexpectedly joined the ranks of the NFL Insider when he broke a huge story on Saturday.  Earlier that afternoon, he jumped on social media to reveal that edge rusher Arden Key had won his appeal and wouldn’t be suspended. On Wednesday, Simmons opened up about his reporting.

“I just broke the news to everybody,” Simmons said, “I was so damn excited to have my guy out there for the first game with me.”

Simmons didn’t dive into the specifics of the case, deferring to the NFL Players Association and Key for details. But Simmons and the Titans have reason to be excited about having their edge rusher back to bolster an already thin unit. It is extremely rare for players to have their suspensions totally nullified. 

“When he told me, I was probably more happy than him,” Simmons said, “it was a good moment not just for him, but for the whole team.” 

Even though the league has yet to release an official statement, the Titans are likely to have Key in place when they open the 2024 regular season against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.

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149369 Syndication: The Tennessean
Titans' WR Treylon Burks sustains injury, leaves practice early https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/tennessee-titans-wr-treylon-burks-sustains-injury-leaves-practice-early/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:50:26 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149365 The Tennessee Titans resumed practice on Wednesday, but it wasn’t without issue. Wide receiver Treylon Burks went down with an injury and left practice early.

The good news is that Burks left the field under his own power. This is a good indication that whatever the injury is, it’s probably not major.

This injury is just the latest reason Burks will point to when asked why he hasn’t earned a starting spot yet. A former first-round pick, 18th overall in 2022, Burks was expected to be on the field making a difference by now. But because he hasn’t acclimated to the league yet, the Titans picked up veteran wide receivers to ensure that Will Levis has reliable weapons at his disposal.

Burks didn’t record any catches against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he did have one catch for 12 yards against the San Francisco 49ers during the first preseason game.

Over two seasons, Burks has 49 receptions for 665 yards and one touchdown. He adds 65 yards on nine carries, and he has a total of 30 first downs between the two.

At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, plus natural athleticism on the field, Burks has the potential to be a solid receiver. But he has to stay healthy and put in the work to get it done. He has improved, which is positive, but he still has room for growth.

The Titans face the New Orleans Saints this Sunday in the Titans’ final preseason game of the year.

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149365 Syndication: The Tennessean
Titans down multiple players for Wednesday's practice https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/titans-down-multiple-players-for-wednesdays-practice-kearis-jackson-josh-whyle-injuries/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:54:09 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149360 As the Tennessee Titans hit the field in preparation for their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, they are feeling the effects of the preseason grind. According to reports, multiple players will be held out of practice on Wednesday.

Defensive tackle TK McLendon Jr., who hurt his foot in the victory over the Seattle Seahawks, is the most significant. He is expected to miss multiple weeks of action after suffering a turf toe injury that impacts the defensive line’s overall depth.  

Wide receiver and kick returner Kearis Jackson was also injured against the Seahawks. He suffered a bone bruise in his knee during the first half and did not return. The injury deals a tremendous blow to Jackson, who is locked in a battle for one of the last roster spots. 

Tight end Josh Whyle and linebacker Otis Reese are both in the concussion protocol. Reese was also injured against the Seahawks. It is unclear when Whyle entered the protocol; he was one of many Titans held out of action against the Seahawks.

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149360 Syndication: The Tennessean
Titans' undrafted wideout's injury could prove costly https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/tennessee-titans-mason-kinsey-suffers-massive-injury-setback/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:12:51 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149352 The Tennessee Titans received some not-so-great news on Mason Kinsey. Jim Wyatt of Titans Online reported that the undrafted wide receiver broke his pinkie finger in the team’s preseason Week 2 contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

The 25-year-old registered 30 snaps in last Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Kinsey was showcasing himself well before the injury. He hauled in two catches for 29 yards, broken down into a 14-yard grab from Malik Willis and a 15-yarder from Mason Rudolph.

Despite the setback of his injury, Kinsey still has a chance to make the Titans’ regular-season roster, although perhaps a bit of a long shot now.

His preseason performance before the injury was promising. However, he will be limited for the foreseeable future, which could affect his chances. Entering Sunday’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, the former Division III standout was listed in a third-string role.

Kinsey has appeared in nine career games and hauled in two catches for nine yards. However, he was beginning to carve out a role in the punt return game last season. In six games, Kinsey fielded 11 punts and registered a combined 100 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per return.

With the Titans having revamped their wide receiver room in free agency, the timing of Kinsey’s injury is a cause for concern. The injury, coupled with rookie wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson’s standout performance in the punt return game this preseason, could prove costly for Kinsey.

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149352 Syndication: The Tennessean
Where Titans' Will Levis lands in latest NFL MVP odds https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/where-tennessee-titans-will-levis-lands-latest-nfl-mvp-odds/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:43:40 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149344 The Tennessee Titans are doing everything possible to set second-year quarterback Will Levis up for success. After an up-and-down rookie season in which he took over for Ryan Tannehill, Levis is now the unquestioned starter.

The Titans will be looking for the former 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to establish himself as a franchise quarterback. If he succeeds, Levis could find his way into the NFL’s Most Valuable Player conversation.

Will Brinson of CBS Sports recently published his “2024 NFL MVP predictions.” He has Levis at 150-1 preseason odds of taking home the prestigious award.

Levis is a REAL long shot, but I think his number is better than most. Perhaps you read the glowing Tuscan Castle-filled breakdown of Levis game from our own Pete Prisco? Levis also has a new coaching staff and I’m bullish on Brian Callahan, especially since he brought his dad Bill along with him to Tennessee. That development should help the run game in a massive way, as should the addition of Tony Pollard along with Tajae Spears in the backfield. Tennessee’s OL isn’t in great shape, but picking up J.C. Latham in the draft is massive. The Titans also went out and splurged on Calvin Ridley in free agency. Pairing him with DeAndre Hopkins and then adding Tyler Boyd gives them a really nice, complementary veteran wideout group. Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle are sneaky tight end options. The AFC South is a tough division, but it’s at least gettable. Levis has the arm, no question. And even though he fell to the second round, he might have the pedigree too. He’s been endorsed by Peyton Manning and he was at one point considered a top-five pick in the draft before his dip. Maybe he takes a massive leap in his second year and leads the Titans to a division title.

For all the reasons that Brinson notes, Levis should, in theory, have a promising sophomore campaign. The Titans have added notable weapons on both sides of the ball, which should only help their quarterback maintain possession—longer drives, more points on offense, and shorter drives, fewer points on defense.

Whether that translates into the win column remains to be seen.

The Titans will give their starters a few series in their final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. In his only action thus far, Levis has guided Tennessee to two touchdown drives against the San Francisco 49ers.

The MVP award has historically been given to players on top teams in the National Football League. The Titans may not achieve that this year. Heck, they may not even have a winning record.

But as long as Levis takes the necessary measures to show that he is the long-term answer under center, that is a major win for the Titans in the 2024 NFL season.

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149344 NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans
Titans' L’Jarius Sneed a potential first-time Pro Bowler? https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/titans-ljarius-sneed-a-potential-first-time-pro-bowler/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:26:04 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149335 The NFL preseason is always a time to look ahead and attempt to predict which players will take the next step in their careers. It is also a time to assess a roster and project who will be the next Pro Bowler to emerge.

Ken Patra from NFL.com predicted one potential Pro Bowler from each team. He came up with a surprising name for the Tennessee Titans: cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

It is mindboggling that Sneed hasn’t received any postseason accolades. No Pro Bowl. No All-Pros. Maybe voters dislike all the penalties the physical corner collects? (Shrug emoji.) All I know is that Sneed is a bully who makes receivers work for everything. His -29.7 target EPA ranked third among corners in the NFL last season (min. 300 snaps), and his -.33 EPA/target was fourth, per NGS. Now in Tennessee after a March trade, Sneed will lead a revamped defense under new coordinator Dennard Wilson. Helping turn around a unit that was torched under the previous regime should finally bring Sneed the recognition he deserves.

The Titans made a splash this offseason by rebuilding their secondary, with Sneed being the centerpiece of the overhaul. After working out a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Titans rewarded Sneed with a four-year, $76.4 million deal, including $55 million in guaranteed money and a $20 million signing bonus. 

For the former 2020 fourth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, Sneed has a contract that supports his on-field accomplishments, and now all he needs is postseason accolades to catch up. Since being drafted, he has started 57 regular season games over the past four seasons, and he’s recorded 10 interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 40 passes defensed. The two-time Super Bowl champion is now looking to become a first-time Pro Bowler, and the Titans will benefit from his presence in the back-end of their secondary.

 

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149335 Syndication: The Tennessean
Your favorite sports team now has a new WWE Championship Belt https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/21/your-favorite-sports-team-now-has-a-new-wwe-championship-belt/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:12:23 +0000 https://ftw.usatoday.com/?p=2302563 Whether it’s the football field, the baseball diamond, the basketball court or even the hockey rink, your favorite team has a WWE legacy championship belt now available with their name on it.

It’s the perfect way to show off some bragging rights or display your fandom, a real world championship belt just like the WWE has.

Speaking of being at the top, the NFL is covered at every corner … except the Jacksonville Jaguars (Jags owner Shahid Khan and his son, Tony Khan, own rival promotion AEW.)

Cowboys fans? Defend your NFC East division title. Naturally, Chiefs Kingdom needs no explanation on their championship prowess.

A top college football supporter? WWE has produced belts for 20 top programs such as the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

And don’t forget your other sports squads like the Boston Celtics after they won their league-leading 18th NBA Championship banner this season.

Grab your team’s belt right now at Fanatics.

Shop WWE title belts

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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149338 WWETitleBelts2024
Titans place Garrett Wallow on IR, sign Mikel Jones https://titanswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/20/tennessee-titans-place-garrett-wallow-on-ir-sign-mikel-jones/ Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:18:26 +0000 https://titanswire.usatoday.com/?p=149330 Tennessee Titans linebacker Garrett Wallow was ruled out for the entire 2024 season with a torn pectoral muscle sustained during practice. Not surprisingly, the Titans have now placed him on injured reserve. In his stead, the Titans signed linebacker Mikel Jones.

The Houston Texans drafted Wallow in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. He played two seasons there before joining the Titans in 2023. Over his three-year career, Wallow has recorded 42 tackles (26 solo), one sack and one pass defensed.

Jones signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse. He didn’t make the final 53-man roster and signed with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad before joining the UFL’s D.C. Defenders in 2024. He has no professionally recorded stats.

This transaction is more about having bodies than anything else. When you have guys like Harold Landry, Arden Key, Jack Gibbons, Chance Campbell, and Jaylen Harrell ready and healthy, a guy like Jones won’t see much playing time.

Football is a rough sport, though, and players go down all the time. Even if injuries are minor and don’t require weeks of missed time, there still needs to be time to heal. During that healing time, bodies are still needed for practices and games. Jones’ signing replaces the depth lost when Wallow was placed on IR.

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149330 Syndication: The Tennessean