The Tennessee Titans are prepared to embark on their second of three preseason contests on Saturday night when they head to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings.
It remains unclear how many starters will play, but preseason games are more about the guys behind them trying to show their stuff in order to earn roster spots and roles with the team.
There are multiple starting competitions we’ll be keeping an eye on, as well as battles for depth spots. With that in mind, here’s a look at the players who need to show out the most in preseason Week 2.
QB Malik Willis
With Will Levis’ status up in the air for preseason Week 2 following an injury at practice on Thursday, it might be the Malik Willis show this week. Even if Levis plays, there isn’t nearly as much pressure on him as there will be on Willis, seeing as how the Kentucky product is still a rookie.
I think Willis’ spot on this roster is secure, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s secured the backup quarterback job behind Ryan Tannehill yet, as the gap between himself and Levis simply isn’t big enough at the moment to make that call.
I will say I think Willis has been better overall, and that was also true in the preseason opener, where the Liberty product looked vastly improved from where he was last year in all areas.
Now, Willis has to show that clear improvement wasn’t a fluke while also fixing some of the issues he had in his preseason debut with accuracy, time management (he had a delay of game) and processing.
If he can be better in all three of those areas and have another strong performance overall, Willis will be another giant step closer to officially being named Tannehill’s backup.
WR6 (and WR7?) candidates
While it has never been a foregone conclusion that the Titans would carry six or let alone seven receivers on their initial 53-man roster, the chances they do so greatly increased after Treylon Burks suffered a sprained LCL.
The injury won’t be long term, but the possibility that Burks doesn’t play in Week 1 means the Titans need to carry a sixth receiver, and quite possibly a seventh depending on how they feel about the group minus Burks.
The top candidates for the final one or two spots on the depth chart at the moment are Racey McMath, Reggie Roberson, Kearis Jackson, Tre’Shaun Harrison and Colton Dowell.
Mason Kinsey is another name to watch after he posted the second-most receiving yards in preseason Week 2, but he’s a long shot in my mind due to the fact Tennessee already has a slot guy like him in Kyle Philips.
McMath led the team in receiving yards in the preseason opener, followed by Jackson and Harrison, who were tied, and then Roberson, who was originally the favorite going into the game.
Roberson has continued to impress more so than the rest in practice but a stronger showing in the second preseason game would do wonders for his chances.
Whatever the case may be, this race for the one — and quite possibly now two — final spots is neck-and-neck and these players need to start doing more to separate themselves with only two preseason games left.
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
If the season started today and Burks was unable to play, Chris Moore would no doubt be the option to play on the outside in Burks’ spot. Moore has easily been better than NWI this offseason, and that was certainly the case in preseason Week 1, even though Moore nearly fumbled.
I’m not sure Westbrook-Ikhine can even do enough to surpass Moore, who is clearly the more talented receiver. But he’ll have zero chance if he doesn’t make some plays this week.
LB Monty Rice
Rice, who was once projected to be a starter, is vying for a starting linebacker job that, by all accounts, seems to be Jack Gibbens’ to lose, as Dr. Gibby has routinely gotten a ton of first-team reps in practice.
Adding to that, Chance Campbell and Ben Niemann have begun to come on strong, and there’s also the presence of Luke Gifford to further crowd things and increase the chances Rice gets buried or worse, misses the cut altogether.
Making matters worse for the former third-round pick, he missed a pair of practices this week, one of which came on Thursday.
I don’t think he’ll ultimately miss the cut, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out, either. It would greatly benefit Rice to not only play, but to play well, also.
The kickers
Caleb Shudak was able to outperform Trey Wolff in preseason Week 1, with the former making his lone field goal attempt and the latter missing his.
However, Shudak’s make wasn’t exactly impressive. In fact, it barely made it through the uprights and likely would have gone wide if he was a bit further back.
This competition remains very much up in the air, but another poor showing from both could also lead to Tennessee exploring the free-agent market for a veteran option.
TE Josh Whyle
Whyle had a rough debut, as he lost a fumble and had a Malik Willis pass go through his hands that ended up being intercepted. Granted, Willis’ pass was definitely high, but as the rookie tight end told reporters after the game, he should’ve come down with it.
Nevertheless, the rookie has seemingly responded with a strong week of practices and will look to build on that with a better showing in preseason Week 2.
Whyle currently sits no better than No. 3 on the depth chart behind Chig and Trevon Wesco. While I don’t think he’ll jump Wesco before the season starts, he can guarantee at least some semblance of a role on offense with a strong finish to the preseason.
Backup O-linemen
While offensive coordinator Tim Kelly bailed the reserves out a bit during the week by stating half of the eight sacks allowed in the preseason opener were on the quarterbacks, there’s no question the group as a whole simply wasn’t good, no matter who you blame the sacks on.
There are still primary backup jobs up for grabs at left tackle and right tackle, as none of the players have truly asserted themselves in those competitions. And, I’m not totally convinced Chris Hubbard is 100 percent set in stone at right tackle, so that job may potentially be available, also.
The primary backup role at guard and center will be Corey Levin’s, but, of course, he’s not going to be the lone interior depth option on the roster for those spots.
You’ll obviously be keeping an eye on the projected starters if they play, but everyone not named Andre Dillard, Peter Skoronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, Chris Hubbard and Corey Levin will be under the microscope.
Backup CB candidates
With the Titans parting ways with Chris Jackson this week, the path to a roster spot for the rest of the backup cornerback options just got a little easier.
After a strong showing in preseason Week 1, I now consider UDFA Eric Garror as the favorite to make the cut behind Kristian Fulton, Sean-Murphy Bunting, Roger McCreary, Elijah Molden and Tre Avery, assuming the Titans carry a sixth.
And, there could be two depth spots up for grabs if Molden is considered more of a safety, which is the case on the team’s first unofficial depth chart.
As big of a fan as I am in an underdog like Garror, he’s still got a ways to go before securing a spot with this team, as is the case with the rest of the depth options, a group that struggled overall in preseason Week 1.
Keep an eye on Garror, as well as Armani Marsh, Anthony Kendall, Steven Jones Jr. and Alonzo Davis. I’d say Marsh is someone who is up there with Garror in terms of having the best shot to secure a roster spot of this group.
