3 standouts and 2 duds from Titans' preseason Week 2 victory over Falcons

The Tennessee Titans played their second preseason contest of the 2025 season on Friday, beating the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. It capped a productive week in Georgia, which included two spirited joint practices with the Falcons earlier in the week. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward played three possessions, completing 2-of-7 passing attempts for 42 yards, but was far more effective than the numbers indicate.

The Titans sat several starters versus the Falcons. Veteran wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett were among the sideline spectators, offering the team's rookie wideouts an opportunity to work higher up in the depth chart. Jeffery Simmons, Quandre Diggs, T'Vondre Sweat, Kevin Zeitler, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Kevin Winston Jr. also did not play.

Which players managed to stand out — for better or worse? Let's take a closer look at what occurred during Friday's Week 2 preseason showdown with the Falcons by identifying the standouts and duds.

Standouts and Duds from Titans' 23-20 preseason Week 2 victory over Falcons

Stud: LB Cedric Gray

Second-year linebacker Cedric Gray started next to Cody Barton. The former North Carolina standout maximized his opportunity by sacking Falcons quarterback Easton Stick on a second down on Atlanta's opening possession. He timed his blitz well and blew up the running back in pass protection to force a third-and-long and successive punt. He later recorded an interception that didn't count due to offsetting penalties. Gray is making a late push to overtake James Williams for a starting job.

Stud: TE Gunnar Helm

It was a productive evening for the Titans' 2025 rookie class, and tight end Gunnar Helm was the first-year hopeful who made the standout play. Running a physical route up the seam, Helm nabbed this 25-yard touchdown, a highlight-reel-worthy moment. This is big-boy football from Helm to complete the contested-catch situation. The former Texas standout accumulated a team-high four receptions for 48 yards.

Dud: WR Van Jefferson

Veteran receiver Van Jefferson dropped a pass last week that ended the Titans' first drive prematurely. On Friday, his error was arguably more egregious. Facing a second-and-13 after a holding penalty, Ward seemingly found him streaking across the middle for a would-be explosive gain over the head of three Falcons defenders. Jefferson dropped a perfectly placed ball, leading to a punt. Meanwhile rookie Elic Ayomanor, who is looking to replace the experienced wideout in the starting lineup, had a 35-yard catch earlier in the drive.

Stud: S Kendell Brooks

Safety Kendell Brooks is in a three-man competition with Mike Brown and Julius Wood for the fifth and potentially final positional roster spot. Brooks made a statement by reading a pass from Stick to intercept the ball and return it for a pick-six touchdown. Brooks, who's had an underrated training camp, is in legitimate contention to make the roster.

Dud: K Joey Slye, WR Kendall Sheffield on special teams

The Titans replaced kicker Nick Folk with Joey Slye this offseason because they wanted a bigger leg. Slye, a career 81.7 percent kicker, has occasionally struggled with accuracy throughout his uneven career. Those concerns were evident on Friday when he missed an extra point following Brooks' pick-six touchdown. Elsewhere on special teams, reserve receiver TJ Sheffield fumbled a second-half kickoff that awarded the Falcons possession deep in Titans territory. Sheffield probably won't get another opportunity.