With the Tennessee Titans’ preseason Week 1 game in the books, it’s time to take a look at the team’s snap counts from the loss to the Chicago Bears.
Snap counts can tell us a lot, especially during the preseason. Lower snap counts can be an indication a team didn’t need an extended look at a player, which means they tend to be safer in their bid for a roster spot.
But a low snap count can also mean a player left early due to injury, so keep that in mind.
Before we get to the snap counts and the biggest takeaways from them, here’s the list of players who didn’t suit up in preseason Week 1:
QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks, TEs Chig Okonkwo, Trevon Wesco and Alize Mack (injury), OL John Ojukwu (injury) and Dillon Radunz (PUP), DL Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart, Denico Autry and Naquan Jones (injury), LB Azeez Al-Shaair, OLBs Arden Key and Harold Landry, CBs Kristian Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Roger McCreary and Caleb Farley (PUP), S Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker and A.J. Moore (injury), DBs Josh Thompson (NFI) and Chris Jackson (injury).
Just a note: players listed with “injury” are assumed based on their having missed the team’s last full practice on Thursday.
Now, the analysis of the snap counts.
Quarterbacks
While Malik Willis and Will Levis alternated drives throughout the game, Willis saw 12 more snaps in total, and he was on the field for one more series. As a result, Willis threw 11 more passes than Levis.
Running backs
Julius Chestnut led the way with 32 snaps, more than double Hassan Haskins. Less snaps is typically a good sign, as it likely means Haskins is ahead of him for a roster spot. However, Chestnut was the better back on Saturday.
Tyjae Spears made the most of his 12 snaps, with all coming on the first offensive drive of the game, a drive in which he shined. Jonathan Ward finished the day with 11 snaps but he exited early due to a knee injury.
Wide receivers
Colton Dowell had the most snaps at wide receiver but didn’t do much with them, tallying one catch for six yards on two targets.
Racey McMath and Mason Kinsey were tied for second in snaps, and they finished Nos. 1 and 2 in receiving yards, respectively. Reggie Roberson out-snapped Kearis Jackson and Tre’Shaun Harrison, but both had 14 more receiving yards.
As far as roster locks are concerned, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips and Chris Moore all saw snaps, with Philips seeing the least. NWI and Philips had one catch each, and Moore nabbed a 30-yard reception.
Tight ends
Josh Whyle led the way at tight end, but it was a rough afternoon for the rookie, who was solely responsible for one turnover and partly for another. Justin Rigg was the only other tight end to record a catch, and Thomas Odukoya left early with an injury.
Offensive line
The starters (Andre Dillard, Peter Skoronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill and Chris Hubbard) saw 12 snaps, all of which came on the opening series. The group had a positive showing overall.
Andrew Rupcich led the way among the guys on the bubble, followed by Xavier Newman, who had a rough game, as did the backups as a whole.
Right tackle candidates like Jaelyn Duncan and Zack Johnson saw 28 and 32 snaps, respectively, with Duncan seeing time at both left and right tackle. John Ojukwu did not play due to injury.
Nicholas Petit-Frere, who is suspended for the first six games, got some action with 16 snaps.
Defensive line
Naquan Jones, who is battling for a roster spot, was absent due to injury.
Both Sam Okuayinonu and Caleb Murphy are listed among the defensive linemen, but both are listed as outside linebackers on the Titans’ unofficial depth chart. Nevertheless, they each notched a sack.
Veteran Jaleel Johnson led the way among D-linemen with 40 snaps, and UDFA T.K. McClendon saw significant playing time, also. Jayden Peevy played just 12 snaps, which is a good sign for his chances of making the roster since less snaps usually means a player is in a good spot.
Shakel Brown, another Titans UDFA, exited the game early due to injury after playing just six snaps. His injury is feared to be season-ending, per Paul Kuharsky.
Inside and outside linebackers
Chance Campbell had the most snaps among inside linebackers, while Thomas Rush had the most among outside linebackers if you don’t count Murphy and Sam O., both of whom we previously mentioned in the D-line section.
Both Monty Rice and Jack Gibbens saw less snaps than Campbell, which signifies they are the two frontrunners for the starting job next to Azeez Al-Shaair. We should point out that Gibbens and Campbell saw the lion’s share of snaps early on.
For those keeping track of #Titans ILB snaps:
Jack Gibbens 7
Chance Campbell 6
Monty Rice 2
Ben Niemann 1— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 12, 2023
Ben Niemann playing 10 more snaps than Luke Gifford leads me to believe he’s behind him on the depth chart. Niemann recovered a fumble in the game.
Defensive backs
No surprise Elijah Molden had the fewest snaps of the group, as he’s a roster lock. Roger McCreary did not play, which is a great sign for his chances of being the primary slot guy.
Shyheim Carter led the way with 36 snaps, which can’t be construed as a good sign for him. He did, however force a fumble to help his cause.
Eric Garror made the most of his 27 snaps with a pair of impressive open-field tackles and two tackles for loss. He was really the only rookie cornerback of the group to stand out.
Armani Marsh didn’t have a good game overall, but the fact that he only saw 19 snaps, which were the second-fewest among defensive backs, tells me he’s going in the right direction for a roster spot. Tyreque Jones appears to be in the same boat.
Tre Avery notched an interception in his 21 snaps, and Mike Brown caused a fumble on special teams. I thought Brown in particular had a good game.
