For football-obsessed maniacs, every minute of the preseason is interesting. It's also understandable if you are one of the Tennessee Titans fans who isn't thrilled to watch the team's fifth-best running back trying to run out the clock in the third preseason game.
However, the Titans are in a unique situation this year, and there won't be as much meaningless exhibition football as there has been in the past. With rookie quarterback Cam Ward's arrival, preseason should be more exciting than ever before.
Earlier this week, Will Levis opted to have season-ending shoulder surgery and will be placed on IR. That means Levis' inevitable departure will be next offseason's problem, when he enters the final year of his rookie contract. It could also mean more reps for Ward throughout training camp and the preseason, as the Titans are now down to three rostered quarterbacks instead of four.
That should make Titans preseason games especially interesting this time around.
Cam Ward to deliver fireworks during Titans preseason
As a Titans fan, do you really care who wins the battle for the backup QB job? If Brandon Allen or Tim Boyle are on the field for the Titans, the season is already lost, so what value is there in giving them extensive reps in the preseason?
Instead, the coaching staff should get Ward a few reps and drives before handing the offense over to Allen and Boyle.
Veterans like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett may play a handful of snaps with Ward, but then they are going to quickly head to the sidelines. That means it is time for the depth of the wide receiver room to shine.
Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Xavier Restrepo, and Bryce Oliver are going to see a lot of action in the preseason, and you can throw Gunnar Helm and Josh Whyle in that mix, too.
Keep that in mind when you are debating watching preseason games, because the coaches, players, and even the people in the front office are all incentivised to make the second half of these exhibitions as exciting as possible.
Situations like this don't come around very often, so just sit back and enjoy the fireworks.