Ahead of their preseason opener on Thursday, the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers met up in Santa Clara for a joint practice. After two weeks of training camp practices, he practice offered Robert Saleh's team its first chance of the offseason to face off with another unit.
From the start of the first team period, practice was heated. Multiple fights broke out, with players getting chippy after the play.
Still, these players stood out, for better or for worse.
3 standouts and 3 duds from Titans-49ers joint practice
Standout: WR Wan'Dale Robinson
The Titans kicked off the joint practice with an explosive pass down the left sideline to Wan'Dale Robinson. After making the catch, Robinson was pushed hard out of bounds by 49ers defensive back Renardo Green, leading to both benches clearing for the first of a few scuffles on the day.
Robinson has already established a strong connection with quarterback Cam Ward, connecting with him throughout training camp. He's a clear No. 2 pass catcher in Tennessee's offense, behind first-round pick Carnell Tate.
Standout: LB Cody Barton
Cody Barton needs all of the impact plays he can get as he attempts to fend off Anthony Hill Jr. in the ongoing competition for a starting linebacker spot. He got one during the joint practice, making an impressive pass deflection over the middle of the field on a throw intended for 49ers rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling.
With as many plays as Hill Jr. and James Williams Sr. have been making throughout training camp, Barton had to prove himself.
Standout: RB Nicholas Singleton
Rookie running back Nicholas Singleton is currently buried on the depth chart, but his explosiveness is bound to move him up in the pecking order. He showed off his athleticism in Santa Clara with a couple of nice runs early in the team period.
Singleton has the physical tools to be a starting running back in the NFL. If he can continue to show that he has the vision necessary to find holes, he'll carve out a role in the Titans' offense.
Dud: OT Austin Deculus
Austin Deculus is in the middle of a battle for the Titans' swing tackle position. He didn't give himself a chance to prove his value against the Niners. Just a few plays into practice, he "swung on a 49ers defender then spiked him on the ground," per Turron Davenport. He was ejected from practice. Dan Moore was also ejected, but his spot on the roster is secure.
It was a heated practice, especially in the early going, but Deculus couldn't afford to lose these reps in practice. This lapse of judgement gives Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson an opportunity to take the lead in the position battle.
Dud: Will Levis
It's starting to feel like we're kicking Will Levis while he's already down, but the fourth-year quarterback has struggled to find any semblance of consistency this summer. He finished the team period of the joint practice with an interception, per Paul Kuharsky.
Levis has turned the ball over far too often throughout his time with the Titans. That lack of ball security could be what pushes him off the final roster.
Dud: Amani Hooker
To be fair to Amani Hooker, the entire Titans secondary may be a better substitute here. The 49ers' offense was carving the unit up, producing multiple scores through the air. Hooker got beat by San Francisco wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for an early touchdown.
Pass defense was a major issue for Tennessee last season. Based on reports from joint practice, it doesn't seem to be much better this year.
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