The Tennessee Titans wrapped up their 2023 preseason on Friday night with a 23-7 win over the New England Patriots, giving them a 2-1 record during exhibition play.
Up next for the Titans will be cutdown day, when Tennessee will trim its roster down from 90 to the initial 53 on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
We say initial because the team is likely to do some roster shuffling ahead of the 2023 campaign as players from other teams become available after cuts. It’s also possible Kyle Philips starts the season on injured reserve, which would clear a roster spot.
After putting together the 53-man roster, the Titans will have to fill out their 16-man practice squad, which will likely consist of mostly players the team cut.
Knowing all that, the preseason finale on Friday night was the last chance for players on the roster bubble to show they belong on the initial 53. Here’s a look at who came out as winners, losers, and somewhere in between.
Winner: QB Malik Willis
Willis is still putting the ball in harms way too much, holding on to the ball for too long and he had a delay of game in the fourth quarter. He had two bad picks, with one displaying his frustrating inconsistency with accuracy, but the one over the middle to a Pats defender was particularly ugly and inexcusable.
However, Willis showed the ability to bounce back after his mistakes and made some good throws throughout the game. He’s very good at extending plays and keeping his eyes down the field, as well.
Second week in a row @malikwillis has connected with @JuliusChestnut for 6!
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/ezY4JnT9fU
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
Despite the positives, I still worry about Willis going up against a starting defense, which he didn’t do tonight. That said, I also wonder if some of his issues can be cured or at least improved by playing with better receivers.
All in all, there’s still plenty for Willis to correct, but he did finish off the preseason with his best statistical performance and has made huge strides in his development overall. Willis did enough to achieve his goal of securing QB2.
Loser: K Michael Badgley
Badgley made 3-of-4 field goals, but the 44-yard make doinked off the left upright before going through. His other two makes from 27 and 33 were clean but were chip shots. His lone miss was from 39 yards.
After once again rolling the dice at kicker this year, the Titans find themselves in a shaky spot, at best, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see another kicker brought in to challenge Badgley ahead of Week 1.
Winner: DL Denico Autry
Autry played in three series in this game and was an absolute menace, which is what you’d expect from the veteran against backups. Autry finished with three tackles and a strip sack.
GRAND OLE AUTRY!
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/NVbEwMQ1kP
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
In between: The starting offensive line
All to most of the starting group played the first five offensive series, but it was mixed results. The pass protection was very good, but the run-blocking left a lot to be desired, outside of a few runs.
The most surprising thing was seeing left tackle Andre Dillard play into the third quarter, which no other starter did. It isn’t clear why, but one would hope it wasn’t because the Titans didn’t like what they saw from him.
Also, something to keep an eye on: right guard Daniel Brunskill exited early with a knee injury and did not return.
Winner: OLB Caleb Murphy
Murphy tallied his fourth sack of the preseason, which is the most on the team. After showing plenty of promise as a pass-rusher during exhibition play, it’s hard to imagine him not being on the initial 53-man roster. If he isn’t, it’ll be because of special teams, which I think would be a mistake.
Caleb Murphy can't stop getting to the quarterback
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/FjRAB1riNe
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
Winner: WR Colton Dowell
After being quiet for much of training camp and the preseason, Dowell saved his best for last with a team-high 49 receiving yards on two catches, both of which came on touchdown drives. His longest catch of the game went for 30 yards and moved the chains on third down.
Adding to all that, Dowell played ahead of guys like Racey McMath and Reggie Roberson early on, which may be a sign he’s got the inside track to land a roster spot over those two.
It remains to be seen if this performance will be enough to put Dowell over the top, but he did exactly what he needed to do on Friday night.
.@malikwillis to the hometown kid @ColtonDowell2 for 30 yards!
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/upybYBQEiw
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
Winner: WR Kearis Jackson
Not only did Jackson reel in one of Willis’ two touchdown passes, he was also heavily involved in the return game. He was the only player to return kicks, and he had all but one of the punt return2.
Unfortunately, he was only able to record one return on a punt, which he took for 16 yards, but the fact the Titans gave him such an extended look means he’s under serious consideration to be a returner, which gives him another avenue to make this team.
.@malikwillis to @king_kearis for his second passing TD of the game! 🎯
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/N8qzvnWRtj
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
Losers: The rest of the WR6 candidates
While Jackson and Dowell shined, the other candidates for WR6 were nowhere to be found.
McMath, Roberson, Mason Kinsey and Gavin Holmes were all held without a catch, and the former two in particular played behind Dowell to start the game. Tre’Shaun Harrison was the only candidate to record a grab, but it went for just seven yards.
The good news for all of the roster bubble receivers is there might be an extra spot opening up if the Titans end up putting Kyle Philips on injured reserve to start the season. However, that spot won’t open up until the Titans first finalize their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Winner: DL Michael Dwumfour
After shining in preseason Week 2, Dwumfour was back at it on Friday night, tallying a team-high two sacks. Dwumfour, who was added last week, might have done enough in exhibition play to sneak onto the 53-man roster.
Winner: The defense
The Titans’ starters and backups were excellent in this game, with the Pats finishing with an astonishingly bad 79 total yards of offense, including just 24 through the air.
Granted, New England didn’t play their starters but that’s still an impressive performance for Tennessee’s defense to close out the preseason.
Winners: The running backs
Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut didn’t have a lot of room to run but both still managed to make highlight plays.
Spears broke a 19-yard run that saw him whip out a mean stiff-arm. Chestnut had a 23-yard run where he showed an impressive cut and great vision, and he had a 30-yard reception and a receiving touchdown for good measure.
CHESTNUTS ROASTING 🔥
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/XiSvc3iG02
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
🚨 STIFF-ARM ALERT @tyjae22
📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/ti3y8tTi2R
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 26, 2023
Even Jacques Patrick got involved with a team-high 76 yards on 5.1 yards per tote, and he tallied two catches for 19 yards.
When it comes to Chestnut, he should make the cut, as he’s routinely been one of the biggest standouts during preseason play. Spears, of course, is already locked-in.
As for Patrick, this performance may have been enough to get him a spot on the practice squad, but that’s likely as far as he’ll go.
