It’s pretty safe to say the Brian Callahan era is off to a relatively good start as the Tennessee Titans defeated the Seattle Seahawks 16-15 inside of Nissan Stadium to move to 2-0 in the preseason. Here are my five takeaways from the game tonight:
Rookie Kicker Brayden Narveson
Narveson was the story of the night going 3/3 in field goal attempts including a 59-yard field goal with 7:53 remaining in the fourth quarter and the game-winner as time expired.
The N.C. State product is in his first season and is fighting for a roster spot as Nick Folk is set to handle kicking duties for the Titans.
Jaylen Harrell
After a quiet night against the San Francisco 49ers in last Saturday’s win, Harrell was a force to be reckoned with this time around. The seventh-rounder recorded two sacks and forced fumble as he tries to cement his spot on the 53-man roster.
With the news breaking this afternoon about edge rusher Arden Key’s six-game suspension being overturned, the Titans are feeling more comfortable with the depth at defensive end.
Mason Rudolph vs Malik Willis
Despite Willis getting the start at quarterback tonight, it is pretty evident who will be QB2 for the Titans this fall. Even while playing less snaps than Willis, Rudolph led the team in passing and finished the game going 10/17 for 125 yards and a touchdown. Willis went 12/16 for 116 yards and one interception. He also added 30 yards on four carries.
It was also clear the Titans offensive struggles when Willis was in the game compared to when Rudolph was leading the charge. The Titans’ first points did not come until 38 seconds remained in the first half when Rudolph found the ever-reliable Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 15-yard score. That was Rudolph’s first drive of the evening as well.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is one of the Titans’ most reliable options in the passing game. Westbrook-Ikhine accounted for the lone touchdown of the night and finished with two receptions for 20 yards.
During his first four years in the league, he has totaled 94 receptions for 1,276 and 10 touchdowns. If you’re looking for consistency, Westbrook-Ikhine is your guy.
Offensive Line Struggles
While the starters did not play tonight, there are legitimate concerns surrounding the Titans’ offensive tackle depth. Jaelyn Duncan and John Ojukwu got the starts at left and right tackle respectively, but the duo combined for three holding penalties and a sack in the first half
The Titans did not commit a single penalty vs the 49ers but were penalized 10 times for 90 yards tonight. The offensive line depth is a issue that will have to improve.
What’s Next
The Tennessee Titans will conclude their preseason next Sunday as the travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. CST.
Follow Parker Kelley on Twitter/X @Parker_Kelley10
Photo courtesy of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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