2023 Titans ready to 'kick off long journey to Super Bowl'
NASHVILLE — With the preseason wrapped up, roster cuts made, and the 2023 NFL season getting underway on Thursday night, there is a palpable buzz amongst Tennessee Titans players. After finishing 2022 on a brutal seven-game losing streak and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, Tennessee hired a new General Manager. Former […]
NASHVILLE — With the preseason wrapped up, roster cuts made, and the 2023 NFL season getting underway on Thursday night, there is a palpable buzz amongst Tennessee Titans players.
After finishing 2022 on a brutal seven-game losing streak and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, Tennessee hired a new General Manager. Former San Francisco 49ers executive Ran Carthon took the GM job and quickly turned a spiraling roster into a legitimate contender.
Carthon signed a flurry of impact defenders in free agency including Arden Key, Azeez-Al Shaair, and Sean Murphy Bunting. He dedicated all six of his 2023 NFL Draft selections to the offense, grabbing offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, explosive running back Tyjae Spears, and quarterback Will Levis amongst others.
Finally, Carthon capped off his debut offseason with the big splash signing of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Ryan Tannehill is not short on weapons this year.
Kickoff in New Orleans is days away, and there is an energy and confidence in Tennessee that is a good sign of things to come.
Talking to the players and coaches, you wouldn’t know this team's last regular season win was in mid-November. You wouldn’t know there was a major overhaul of the roster. You wouldn’t know there were rumors that Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill would be traded, and you definitely wouldn’t know every national media outlet was picking the Jacksonville Jaguars to waltz to a second consecutive AFC South title.
The expectations in the Titans locker room are high, and the main objective remains the same as it was when Tennessee was the number one seed in the 2021 AFC playoffs – hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
"I just think the energy is ramped up a little bit. I think the excitement level raises up," said Titans safety Kevin Byard about the regular season starting. "People are lifting a little bit more weights, people are just doing a lot more because you obviously know that it's game week."
"I think everybody is excited and we're about to kick off this long journey to the Super Bowl," said Byard.
Titans starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a similar outlook to Byard. Tannehill told me on Wednesday that he is happy with the energy level of the team as they embark on the 2023 season, but their identity won't be fully evident until the Titans are battle tested.
"There is always an excitement going into week one. Now it's a matter of making it happen," said Tannehill. "Every team in the league has an opportunity to go and execute their goals and reach what they want to reach, but only one team does that. It's a matter of finding a way week in and week out to stay true to what we believe in, how we do it, preparing ourselves, and coming together as a team."
"I like the energy we have, the camaraderie we have, but you really find out what your team's about once you start playing games and go through some adversity," said Tannehill. "I'm excited to kick things off this week."
The Titans will play the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CST.
Tennessee Titans 2023 Season Predictions & Overview
Predicting the Titans’ win-loss record for 2023.
