There weren't many worthwhile takeaways from the Tennessee Titans' Week 18 finale loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward suffered a shoulder injury on the first series that made the game unwatchable. Ward reportedly avoided the worst-case scenario and won't need to undergo surgery for an AC joint sprain.
One of the only interesting nuggets from the regular-season finale was that rookie guard Jackson Slater played on offense for the first time. Veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler exited the game with an injury. He was initially replaced by Corey Levin, but Levin also left hurt, making way for Slater.
Slater ended up earning 34 snaps on offense. The 2025 fifth-round pick looked like a potential future solution on the offensive line. That's an excellent development for the Titans heading into the offseason.
Titans rookie IOL Jackson Slater looked like a future starter in Week 18
Slater was drafted by Mike Borgonzi with the 167th selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He impressed the Titans both at the Senior Bowl and during the pre-draft process. Because Slater played collegiately at little-known Sacramento State, the Titans thought it was best for him to develop behind the scenes as a rookie.
That's precisely why Slater had been limited to special teams prior to the Titans suffering two injuries at guard in Week 18. Though the sample size was admittedly small, Slater looked athletic and productive versus a stout Jaguars defensive front. Pro Football Focus credited him with a 79.2 grade in pass protection, claiming he allowed just one pressure and zero sacks.
The Titans enter the offseason with some uncertainty across the interior of their offensive line. The aging Zeitler is a pending free agent. Center Lloyd Cushenberry is overpaid based on his 2025 production and may be a salary cap casualty.
NFL scouts believed Slater had guard-center versatility throughout the pre-draft process. The Titans cross-trained him at both positions during the season. That means he could be seen as a potential in-house replacement for Zeitler or Cushenberry.
Slater took full advantage of his opportunity in Week 18.