Quarterbacks (3)

Ryan Tannehill

Malik Willis

Will Levis (R)

What started as one of the biggest storylines to watch in training camp has since become a complete no-brainer. With rookie quarterback Will Levis missing time due to a lower body injury, Malik Willis is a lock to make the Titans’ 53-man roster

Even before Levis went down, Willis earned himself a spot on the team with his training camp and preseason performance. Willis is significantly improved from his rookie season and as a result, the Titans are going to keep three quarterbacks. 

Running backs (3)

Derrick Henry

Tyjae Spears (R)

Julius Chestnut

As if Hassan Haskins’ situation was not already cloudy enough due to his legal troubles, the second-year running back suffered an injury in Chicago that has sidelined him for over a week now.

In the meantime, 2022 UDFA Julius Chestnut is doing everything right. Chestnut had 98 rushing yards on just 13 carries in the Titans’ preseason win against Minnesota and he continues to have a significant impact on special teams.

At this point, there is no doubt in my mind that Chestnut deserves a spot on the 53 behind Derrick Henry and Tyjae spears. If you ask me, that makes Haskins expendable. 

Wide receivers (6)

DeAndre Hopkins

Treylon Burks

Kyle Philips**

Chris Moore

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Reggie Roberson Jr.

Recent injuries are making the Titans’ wide receiver room a bit more complicated than it was a week ago.

Treylon Burks sprained his LCL in joint practices in Minnesota and his status for the season opener is up in the air. Meanwhile, Kyle Philips’ MCL injury is expected to sideline him for six weeks. That makes him a candidate to go on Injured Reserve (IR) once the regular season begins.

But in order to place Philips on IR, the Titans will have to include him on their initial 53-man roster and then replace him with a previously waived player (or elevate a practice squad player for the games Philips misses).

So what does this mean for cut day? I’m expecting the Titans to keep six wide receivers on their initial 53, one of those being Philips, who will be inactive for the first few games of the season. Treylon Burks will still be on the roster as well. His injury is not significant enough to warrant an IR stint.

DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Chris Moore are all roster locks, and I have Reggie Robinson Jr. currently edging out Colton Dowell for the final spot on the initial squad.

Dowell and Mason Kinsey would both be candidates to be elevated or added to the roster once/if Philips is placed on IR.

Tight ends (4)

Chig Okonkwo

Josh Whyle (R)

Trevon Wesco

Thomas Odukoya

Tennessee’s top three tight ends – Chig Okonkwo, Josh Whyle, and Trevon Wesco – have all secured roster spots. The only question remaining is which tight end will earn the fourth spot on the roster come cut day.

I think the Titans will opt for a tight end that excels as an in-line blocker here. If Whyle is viewed as a “backup” for Chig, Tennessee may want the fourth spot to go to someone with a similar skillset as Wesco, the team’s best blocking tight end.

If that’s the direction Mike Vrabel and Co. choose to go, Thomas Odukoya is their man. Odukoya was an offseason award winner and has been referred to by Okonkwo as “the strongest guy on the team.”

Odukoya’s development is no joke. The man can block and be impactful in the run game. That has value in the Titans’ offense. Don't be surprised if he makes the roster.

Offensive line (9)

LT Andre Dillard

LG Peter Skoronski (R)

C Aaron Brewer

RG Daniel Brunskill

RT Chris Hubbard

OT Jaelyn Duncan (R)

OT Justin Murray

OL Corey Levin 

OL Jordan Roos

At this point in training camp, the starting offensive line is not likely to change. Andre Dillard, Peter Skoronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, and Chris Hubbard will be Tennessee’s first-team up front.

Corey Levin and Jordan Roos both have experience with the organization and are serviceable depth options on the interior.

2023 sixth-round draft pick Jaelyn Duncan is expected to stick on the roster as tackle depth, and I opted for Justin Murray's veteran experience over some of the younger linemen looking for a roster spot.

Defensive line (5)

Jeffery Simmons

Denico Autry

Teair Tart

Jayden Peevy

Jaleel Johnson

Jayden Peevy has been one of the breakout stars of training camp and has worked his way into the defensive line rotation. Peevy is going to join Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart, and Denico Autry on the roster.

That probably leaves just one more spot on the defensive line up for grabs.

Veteran Jaleel Johnson has seen a good amount of work with the second-team defense and appears to be the next man up at the moment.

Outside linebackers (5)

Harold Landry III

Arden Key

Rashad Weaver

Caleb Murphy (R)

Thomas Rush (R)

Rookie outside linebacker Caleb Murphy seemed like a longshot to make the team when training camp first started, but the tides have turned over the course of this preseason.

It made a lot of sense for Tennessee to stick Murphy on the practice squad and develop him over time, but with Murphy recording three sacks in two preseason games, that may not be possible anymore. Murphy can flat out rush the passer.

As for Thomas Rush, he was the highest paid UDFA signing Tennessee brought in after the draft. His contract and presence on special teams make him a likely candidate to break camp with the team. 

Inside linebackers (5)

Azeez Al-Shaair

Jack Gibbens

Chance Campbell

Monty Rice

Luke Gifford

This is the same group of inside linebackers I predicted to make the team a few weeks ago, and I really don't see it changing by cut day.

Chance Campbell might have been on the bubble when camp started, but between his performance and Monty Rice being unavailable, I'm now confident he'll make the team.

Luke Gifford has not seen many reps on defense, but he was signed for his experience and skill on special teams. He's not going anywhere.

Secondary (10)

CB Kristian Fulton

CB Roger McCreary

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

CB Tre Avery

CB Eric Garror (R)

S Kevin Byard

S Amani Hooker

S Mike Brown

DB Elijah Molden

DB Josh Thompson

Given all the competition and young talent in the Titans' secondary, this might be the hardest group to correctly predict. 

For me, Mike Brown is the clear option at safety behind Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker, and versatile defensive back Elijah Molden. Brown has been regularly rotating with the second-team defense in practice.

At corner, Eric Garror is the breakout training camp star that has run away with a spot. Garror has been a really strong tackler during the preseason and could be an option at punt returner with Kyle Philips down.

Josh Thompson is a forgotten piece that we haven't seen much of this fall. Thompson opened training camp on the Non-Football injury list, but got a lot of work at gunner in Minnesota. That could be a sign he's going to make the team.

Armani Marsh is another guy that has had a good camp, but there are only 53 spots, and I think he's on the outside looking in.

Specialists (3)

P Ryan Stonehouse

K Michael Badgley

LS Morgan Cox

After an underwhelming training camp kicking battle. the Titans waived both Caleb Shudak and Trey Wolff on Tuesday. 

Veteran Michael Badgley was signed to the roster in a corresponding move.

It's still entirely possible that Badgley is not the Titans' kicker Week 1 in New Orleans. He struggled in his first practice with the team and Mike Vrabel didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement of Badgley when he was asked why they chose him over the other available free agents.

Badgley is no safer than Wolff and Shudak were, but as of now, he's the only kicker on the roster.

Notes from a unique Titans training camp scrimmage

Everything you need to know from the Titans’ scrimmage on Tuesday.