Position battles to monitor in Titans joint practices with Seahawks
By Justin Melo
The Tennessee Titans are hosting the Seattle Seahawks for joint practices at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on Wednesday and Thursday. The teams will practice against one another leading up to Saturday’s preseason game. Head coaches Brian Callahan and Mike Macdonald have separately claimed that several starters won’t play in this weekend’s exhibition contest.
That's because in many ways, joint practices are more competitive and helpful for roster evaluating purposes than preseason games are. The Titans and Seahawks rosters are both loaded at different positions. We've identified position battles worth monitoring.
Titans WRs vs. Seahawks CBs
It's a shame that DeAndre Hopkins isn't healthy because the Titans have one of the best trios of receivers in the NFL when he is. Hopkins is still sidelined with a knee injury that could threaten his Week 1 availability. Starting wideouts Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd will carry the slack in his absence.
The Seahawks roster a bunch of exciting young cornerbacks. Ridley and Boyd could match up with Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. Witherspoon, last year's fifth overall selection, qualified for the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
It's a big opportunity for Treylon Burks as well. The Seahawks have two intriguing rookie cornerbacks in D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett. Kyle Philips, Jha'Quan Jackson, and Kearis Jackson will attempt to carry over momentum from their latest preseason and practice performances.