Rather than serving as a warm-up period for starters, the NFL preseason has become an exhibition through which players on the roster bubble make their cases for a spot in the final 53. At least, that's the case for most teams. Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh is a bit more old-school.
Saleh tentatively plans to play his starters in all three preseason games this year, per ESPN's Turron Davenport.
The Titans will play their first preseason game on Thursday, traveling to Santa Clara to take on the San Francisco 49ers. Following an eventful joint practice between the two sides, the opener will give Titans fans a chance to watch their team suit up against another NFL franchise. Even if the starters only play for a series or two, Tennessee should have no problem against a depleted 49ers team.
Titans have a clear advantage in preseason opener against 49ers
If the Titans and 49ers faced off in the regular season, San Francisco would likely be favored heavily, even after all of their injuries. The preseason is a different story. It's a test of youth and depth, not a showcase for top-end talent.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has not said whether he will play his starters in the preseason opener. San Francisco's roster has been harrowed by unfortunate injuries throughout training camp, with Ricky Pearsall, Mike Evans, and Nick Bosa among those going down. It would be surprising to see Shanahan risk losing more starters to injury.
Tennessee will have a distinct advantage when its starters are on the field, giving space for young players like Cam Ward and Carnell Tate to shine early in the game. Brian Daboll's fast-paced offense should thrive in a preseason environment. Plenty of young players on that side of the ball have been impressive throughout training camp and will have a chance to put on a show on Thursday night.
On defense, a revamped Titans secondary will reap the benefits of facing off with a thin group of wide receivers. This will be an important test for Tennessee's backup cornerbacks, who have struggled in training camp so far.
Wins and losses might not mean much in the preseason, but individual performances certainly do. While the 49ers struggle to scrape together enough healthy players to field a team, the Titans enter the preseason opener with depth in droves. There's no excuse for anything but an impressive performance from Tennessee.
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