The Tennessee Titans held their first practice of training camp on Wednesday. There's only one starting position that is a legitimate competition, and that's the right guard spot. With the opening session officially concluded, an early frontrunner has potentially emerged.
It was veteran Cordell Volson who was tipped by head coach Robert Saleh to be the early favorite to win the job. Saleh was asked by Paul Kuharsky if Volson and Austin Schlottmann would be the starting right guard and center at Wednesday's session during his pre-practice press conference. Saleh confirmed that was the plan in response, though there was an apparent change on the practice field.
It was actually sophomore Jackson Slater who got first-team reps at Wednesday's session, according to Kuharsky. If anything, Saleh's slip-up could be interpreted as Volson having the early advantage over Slater. The Titans signed Volson as a free agent to provide veteran experience in the right guard position battle. It appears he's already emerged as the initial candidate to start in Week 1.
Cordell Volson emerges as early frontrunner at Titans training camp for right guard job
The Titans signed Volson to a one-year contract worth just $3.2 million in free agency. General manager Mike Borgonzi pursued the former North Dakota State standout as opposed to re-signing 2025 starter Kevin Zeitler. Zeitler is still available while the team gives Volson and Slater every opportunity to run away with the job.
The Titans will rotate Slater and Volson at camp. Slater reportedly committed a false start penalty during his opportunity with the first-team offense, which is a bad sign considering he's perceived to be trailing Volson.
Saleh's answer at the presser proved to be confusing. It was Slater who received first-team reps on Wednesday, but he failed to take advantage of the opportunity, given his false start penalty.
Volson has started 48 career NFL games in three seasons (2022-24) with the Cincinnati Bengals, having missed all of 2025 with a shoulder injury. He's been a below-average player, but the Titans are counting on a change of scenery to improve his performance. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and position coach Carmen Bricillo may believe he was misutilized by the Bengals.
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