The Tennessee Titans have some tough decisions to make about this roster.
Well, that was fun to watch. After two blowout wins in the first two preseason games, the Tennessee Titans were forced to deal with some adversity. They were the team that turned the ball over. They had to rally late. They did but ultimately fell in a 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears.
When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the Titans put a bow on their preseason with some nice performances by guys we’ve come to expect that from while other guys walked away from this one with questions about their futures.
That isn’t to say that all of the prospects that fall into the latter category stunk it up, but this preseason roster was loaded. Rather than having to peruse the waiver wire for pieces to fill holes, Tennessee will put capable guys on the practice squad to develop further and, whether we like the idea of this or not, they’ll have to waive some good players that will probably find their way onto other rosters as their careers will continue elsewhere.
With that being said, let’s take a look back on a great Saturday of football and name the biggest winners and losers from the Titans’ third and final game of their three-game preseason slate.
5 studs from the Tennessee Titans offense
Mekhi Sargent, running back
Mekhi Sargent found his way into the medical tent and wasn’t seen on the field after that, but he’s long proven that he’s done enough to make this roster. He’s special. try 51 yards on 17 carries, a catch for 16 yards, and a rushing touchdown on for size.
He’s outplayed everyone else at the running back position throughout this preseason and deserves an honorable mention.
Logan Woodside, quarterback
Logan Woodside settled his team down after an early turnover by Matt Barkley and led them on a touchdown drive that resulted in the first points of the game. He threw a pick-six that evened things on the scoreboard, and he led the Titans on a go-ahead drive early in the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t always pretty, but he did what you want your quarterback to do. He handled adversity and made the most of the opportunities that he was given
Cameron Batson, wide receiver
Four receptions on four targets, 45 yards receiving, and being on the receiving end of a go-ahead touchdown from the arm of Logan Woodside definitely gets Cameron Batson a spot on the stud list.
Elijah Molden, cornerback
It wasn’t the statistical masterpiece that we saw in the second preseason game. Monty Rice led the team in tackles with five (all were of the solo variety), but Elijah Molden has done enough to demonstrate that he deserves the starting slot role over former favorite Chris Jackson.
Brian Hill, running back
Brian Hill led the team in rushing and closed out the preseason with a strong performance, but if we’re being honest, had Sargent been available and healthy, that may not have been possible.
5 studs from the Tennessee Titans defense
Matt Barkley, quarterback
Matt Barkley came in as the favorite to win the backup quarterback job. He seemed to be neck and neck with Logan Woodside coming into the final week of the preseason. If that’s true, Barkley’s performance may have ensured that he’s given the job that he wanted to someone else.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, wide receiver
Once seen as one of the favorites to win what might be six jobs at wide receiver on the Titans 53-man regular-season roster, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has fallen all the way down the depth chart. We aren’t discussing him at all anymore.
Caleb Farley, cornerback
Caleb Farley hasn’t played an entire season of football since he was at Maiden High School in North Carolina. He got some valuable playing time in this one and failed to do anything to prove that he should be given anything other than a backup role. Look for some big things in the future, but as of now, he isn’t developing into the guy the Titans thought they were getting when they took him in the first round.
Dez Fitzpatrick, wide receiver
Dez Fitzpatrick hasn’t been able to prove that he’s one of the six best wide receivers on this roster, and he’s kind of put his team in a pickle. If the Titans intend to keep him on the active roster and keep the top six wideouts they have, they may be forced to use a seventh roster spot on Fitz.
Naquan Jones, defensive lineman
Naquan Jones has some ability, but with so much talent along the Titans’ defensive line, it appears the undrafted rookie will fall victim to the numbers game and wind up on the 16-man practice squad.