The Tennessee Titans embark on their first preseason game of the 2022 schedule, traveling to Baltimore on Thursday for a showdown against the Ravens.
The Titans went 2-1 in the preseason a year ago, topping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons in lopsided affairs before dropping a close contest against the Chicago Bears.
While we don’t expect to see a lot of Tennessee’s starters, the first exhibition contest provides the opportunity for players that have not had a great training camp thus far to rebound in a live-game setting.
The team’s unofficial depth chart released earlier this week offered a glimpse of where players currently stand, and some of those players need to have a strong showing in the Titans’ first preseason contest.
Here’s a look at six players who fit the bill. We’ve excluded the team’s draft picks and undrafted free agents from the list, as it goes without being said that those players need to show out in order to grab a role or roster spot.
WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Given the uncertainty at the wide receiver position, one of the first items that caught my attention on the Titans’ unofficial depth chart was Dez Fitzpatrick being buried for the second consecutive season.
If you recall, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2021 was waived and re-signed to the practice squad last year. Due to the number of injuries on the roster, Fitzpatrick found his way onto the active roster, hauling in his first career touchdown catch against the Texans in Week 11.
Fitzpatrick has had a much better camp this time around, but he hasn’t done much to really stand out like other receivers have. Fitzpatrick must make his reps count this preseason to climb in the depth chart and make the roster.
CB Caleb Farley
Caleb Farley appears to have a loose grip on the starting cornerback spot opposite Kristian Fulton, but the Virginia Tech alum has rookie Roger McCreary right on his heels.
On the Titans’ first unofficial depth chart, the pair’s names were separated by a slash, meaning they’re listed as co-starters and fully embroiled in a position battle thanks to McCreary’s sensational showing in training camp.
Farley, 23, hasn’t been able to stay on the field over the last two seasons.
After sitting out the 2020 campaign at Virginia Tech via a COVID-19 opt out, the young cornerback underwent back surgery just before the draft, limiting what he could do in preparation for his rookie campaign.
He played in three games in his first season, including one start, but wasn’t very effective and ended up tearing his ACL in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills.
A strong showing in the Titans’ first exhibition game would go a long way towards solidifying a starting role come Week 1 of the regular season.
DE Larrell Murchison
Taken in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft, Larrell Murchison has played in 21 games, including five starts last year, but he’s had a limited role to say the least. The 25-year-old only played in 28 percent of the Titans’ defensive snaps last year, and 22 percent on special teams.
Denico Autry and DeMarcus Walker are the expected starter and backup defensive ends, respectively, and Tennessee has three more roster locks upfront in Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart and Naquan Jones.
Murchison is going to need the Titans to carry a sixth if he wants to make the cut. He’ll need to make the most of his reps this preseason, something he hasn’t been able to do in training camp.
OL Dillon Radunz
Dillon Radunz has been on an upward trajectory since the end of last season. Despite being deemed “not ready” to start by Titans head coach Mike Vrabel back in March, the 2021 second-round pick worked hard this offseason and was named one of six recipients recognized as offseason award winners.
However, the team’s unofficial depth chart revealed a slash between Radunz and rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere, indicating the job is up for grabs. Adding to that, the pair has been splitting first-team reps, something that hasn’t happened at the other competition upfront at left guard.
Why have the #Titans switched off at first team RT but not LG? Mike Vrabel: pic.twitter.com/hBAMIE9w4d
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 8, 2022
With Petit-Frere quickly emerging with some strong showings in training camp, Radunz must outperform the rookie during the exhibition slate if he wants to secure the starting role.
OL Jamarco Jones
The Titans have a competition for the starting left guard role. Aaron Brewer and Jamarco Jones were separated by a slash on the unofficial depth chart, but the fact that there hasn’t been a rotation with first-team reps at the position like there has been at right tackle is bad news for Jones.
Why have the #Titans switched off at first team RT but not LG? Mike Vrabel: pic.twitter.com/hBAMIE9w4d
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 8, 2022
Adding to his issues, Jones had a confrontation with the guy he’d line up next to, left tackle Taylor Lewan, early on in training camp, which no doubt hurt his cause.
Jones comes in with slightly more starting experience, playing in 36 NFL games, including seven starts, but he doesn’t have the experience Brewer has in Tennessee’s offense. He’ll need a strong preseason showing to unseat Brewer, who appears to have the upper hand going into the exhibitions.
6. CB Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson stepped in admirably last year with all the injuries the Titans endured in the secondary. The former seventh-round pick played in 12 games last year, including three spot starts, and recorded 34 combined tackles and four pass deflections.
Coverage was an issue for Jackson, though, allowing a 68.2 completion percentage and 105.2 quarterback rating on balls thrown in his direction.
The retirement of veteran Buster Skrine made it seem like Jackson was just about a lock at that point, but recently-signed Shakur Brown has made some noise in training camp and is making the case he deserves a roster spot, which could push Jackson out.
