The Tennessee Titans will finish their preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. CST.
Head coach Brian Callahan said the starting lineup would play about three series after missing last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Similar to the first two preseason games, the Titans’ reserve players will get some help getting started before the roster is reduced to 53 players early next week.
Most of the squad battles have already been decided, but some still need to be resolved.
Here are five players who will need to deliver strong performances in New Orleans on Sunday.
QB Malik Willis
Mason Rudolph’s strong performance and experience likely secured him the backup quarterback position behind Will Levis. The Titans must now decide whether to keep three quarterbacks on their roster. Although Malik Willis has shown progress in training camp and the preseason, he will need to impress against the Saints to convince the Titans to keep him, or his tape will be used on his next team.
RB Julius Chestnut
In one of the more exciting roster battles, Chestnut will look to beat out Hassan Haskins if the Titans keep three running backs on the 53-man roster. Chestnut has looked strong in training camp and has translated that into live game scenarios. He led the team with 13 carries for 45 yards against the Seahawks and added 29 yards out of the backfield. Haskins hasn’t performed as well as Chestnut but continues to get praise for his work on special teams.
OL Geron Christian
Without Bill Callahan, I’m not sure the Titans would have signed Geron Christian, who has played for the team’s offensive line coach twice at previous stops. The 27-year-old played just 21 snaps last week, the fewest of any offensive lineman on the roster, while Christian’s main competition for the backup left tackle job, Leroy Watson IV, played 46 snaps.
TE David Martin-Robinson
The Titans have lined up their top two tight ends. Now it’s just a question of which players will fill the backup roles. Martin-Robinson’s reputation has never been higher, and the Titans’ coaching staff has spoken highly of the former undrafted free agent’s abilities as a blocker and pass catcher. The 24-year-old performed well in Tennessee’s second preseason game against Seattle, catching three passes for 38 yards. Martin-Robinson will have to do that again against the Saints.
DL Isaiah Iton
Iton has flashed in spurts this preseason, most notably with two sacks and a sack last week against Seattle. However, the undrafted free agent is buried in the rankings behind Jeffery Simmons and TK McLendon Jr. at the defensive tackle position. Head coach Brian Callahan expressed concerns about the depth of the defensive line earlier this week with Marlon Davidson landing on the injured list (IR) and McLendon out (turf toe). Iton can take measurable steps on Sunday to address those concerns.
OLB Shane Ray
It once seemed like Shane Ray had a path to the Titans’ 53-man roster. But with Arden Key’s suspension lifted and Jaylen Harrell emerging, the outside linebacker position, once one of the thinnest on the roster, looks like a strength. Ray hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2018 and has been fairly quiet in the first two preseason games.
