The Tennessee Titans are scheduled to host the New York Jets in Robert Saleh's debut as the team's head coach. However, the intrigue only starts there because there are various familiar faces on both sides of the field.
For the Titans, Saleh, John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Solomon Thomas, Tony Adams, Michael Carter, Marquand Manuel, Tony Oden, Tanzel Smart, and Aaron Whitecotton all either coached or played for the Jets in recent years.
On the other side, the list isn't as long, but Titans fans should recognize names like T'Vondre Sweat, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Chris Harris, and Shawn Jefferson.
Former Titans NT T'Vondre Sweat struggling to stay healthy with Jets as training camp begins
Coaches aside, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Johnson to prove the Titans right by outperforming Sweat, and it would have been a fun moment for Titans fans if Wan'Dale Robinson or Carnell Tate beat Brownlee for a touchdown.
Unfortunately, Titans fans might not get that vindication because Sweat and Brownlee are far from a sure thing to start in Week 1 at this point. In fact, there is a real scenario where neither one of them plays a meaningful snap on defense in Nashville.
Sweat is the biggest concern because he was recently placed on the PUP list, and an accelerated training camp doesn't bode well for a player who has struggled with his weight in the past. That could significantly reduce the number of snaps we see from Sweat in less than six weeks.
As for Brownlee, he seems to be competing with second-round rookie D'Angelo Ponds for the nickel role. Opinions are mixed on whether Brownlee is the favorite for the job or if he is facing an uphill battle to beat out the rookie, but there is a chance he only plays a small portion of the snaps as well.
Titans fans will still be pumped to see the start of the Saleh-Cam Ward era in Tennessee, and they will get to watch a Week 1 Titans home opener for the first time in years. However, there will be a little bit of bloom off of the rose if there isn't that extra added revenge/prove-it element that many expected to be part of the matchup.
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