Titans' rookie defender has opportunity to play himself into long-term role

Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker James Williams received his first opportunity to play significant defensive snaps in last weekend's defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson had previously been hesitant to insert the raw safety-turned-linebacker into the lineup. Midway through Week 15, he literally had no other choice.

Kenneth Murray was the only regular available at linebacker. His latest starting partner, Jerome Baker, was inactive with injury. So was Otis Reese IV, who had been next-man-up in recent weeks. Veteran special teamer Luke Gifford was tasked with starting opposite Murray. Shortly after intercepting Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Gifford exited with an injury.

The shorthanded Titans had to choose between rookies Williams and Cedric Gray. Given that Gray is still getting up to speed following a multi-month offseason injury, they opted to place Williams next to Murray. He responded with an intriguing performance, recording a team-high eight tackles despite playing just 43 snaps, roughly 62 percent of Tennessee's total defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus assigned him an overall defensive grade of just 51.0, claiming he allowed four receptions on four passing-game targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. Despite the impressive tackle numbers, there's obvious room for improvement.

It served as Williams' debut on defense. The former Miami standout had been cutting his teeth on special teams, logging 199 snaps to date, fourth-most on the team, for Colt Anderson's historically bad unit. Looking ahead to Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, Williams appears slated to earn his first career start at off-ball linebacker.

He's ready for the opportunity.

"It's a blessing," Williams told reporters on Thursday. "It's an opportunity to showcase what I came here to do, and that's play football. I'm ready to show what I can do."

Gifford has been ruled out with a concussion. Murray is questionable after missing three consecutive practices, and Reese was limited on Friday. That should convince head coach Brian Callahan to take an extended look at Williams. Baker appears slated to return from injury, but it should be Murray or Reese partnering Williams behind the defensive line if even one of them is medically cleared.

The Titans are an interesting position at linebacker heading into the offseason. Murray qualifies as a potential cap casualty and Baker is unlikely to be re-signed. That leaves the defense without clear-cut starters at a position that requires two of them. Young defenders like Reese and Jack Gibbens should return, but aren't guaranteed starring roles.

With so much of the roster requiring upgrades elsewhere, general manager Ran Carthon would benefit from Williams (and Gray) emerging as future starters. The 3-11 Titans are playing the remainder of the 2024 campaign to identify future solutions. Hopefully Williams is one of them.