The Titans open the preseason Thursday, and have spent the last few months getting ready for the 2019 NFL season.
As they install the final few touches before the season kicks off, there are some players whose stock is growing, and others who may have dropping.
Here’s a look at some players that fall into one category or the other.
Stock up
Corey Davis
Davis has received rave reviews from the Titans media. He’s made several big plays in camp, and he’s also putting the weight of being a team leader on his shoulders this season.
Expect him to build off of last year’s momentum as he continues to be one of Marcus Mariota’s favorite targets.
Tajae Sharpe
With so many new faces in the receivers group this year, Sharpe has been over looked by many. But Sharpe has been mixing in with the first group of receivers, and had a good game in the Titans scrimmage.
In the scrimmage, Sharpe caught 5 passes including a touchdown in the back of the end zone.
DaQuan Jones
With Jurrell Casey on the PUP and Jeffery Simmons on the IR, the Titans seem to be mighty thin along the defensive line, leaving Jones as the leader of the group.
Jones received an offseason award from the Titans, and became a team captain in the scrimmage game. Jones has received praise in the media for doing a nice job of controlling the line of scrimmage during practices.
Stock down
Dion Lewis
Last season about this time, Lewis was in the process of winning a lead back role competition with Derrick Henry. However, once the coaching staff figured out how to use Henry, Lewis had to take a back seat.
Currently, Henry is out with a strained calf, and other backs are mixing in with Lewis on the first team. David Fluellen, Jeremy McNichols, and Alex Barnes have all gotten a chance to run with the first team.
Anthony Firkser
Last season, Firkser became a fan favorite, catching 18 of his 19 targets. Titans fans love an underdog story, and it seemed like Firkser had potential to turn into a superstar, if given the opportunity.
However, not only is Delanie Walker back this season, but the Titans also brought in another tight end capable of challenging Firkser in Ryan Hewitt. During the scrimmage practice on Saturday, Firkser didn’t help himself as he missed several targets in the rain that he would normally catch.
Darius Jennings
In 2018, Jennings made the team largely because of his abilities as a return man. However, this year there seems to be more competition for the position.
Even with Cameron Batson landing on injured reserve, we haven’t seen much from Jennings.
Not only is Jennings competing with undrafted free agents for the job, but new free agents and even starters at other positions. Adoree’ Jackson, Adam Humphries, Jeremy McNichols, Taywan Taylor, Dalyn Dawkins, Kalif Raymond and Anthony Ratliff-Williams have also taken snaps as a return man.
