Tennessee Titans players with stock on the rise after first preseason game of 2024
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans opened the 2024 preseason with a 17-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in Nashville. Quarterback Will Levis and the Titans' starting offense scored a touchdown on both offensive possessions. That propelled Tennessee to an early lead and eventual win. But more than just the Titans' starting […]
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans opened the 2024 preseason with a 17-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in Nashville.
Quarterback Will Levis and the Titans' starting offense scored a touchdown on both offensive possessions. That propelled Tennessee to an early lead and eventual win.
But more than just the Titans' starting unit shined in the preseason opener. Here's a look at three players with stock on the rise after a strong preseason performance.
1. WR Kearis Jackson
Kearis Jackson hasn't had the strongest training camp at wide receiver. Jackson has been buried on the Titans depth chart with Kyle Philips, Mason Kinsey, and Jha'Quan Jackson all getting offensive reps before him.
But Kearis made his case for making Tennessee's 53-man roster in a big way on Saturday night with his special teams contributions.
After the 49ers drove the length of the field and punched in an opening drive touchdown, Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff for 63 yards, spinning his way deep into Niners territory.
When a player steps up in a role like kick returner, it cannot be ignored. That is the best way for a wide receiver or defensive back that is further down the depth chart to clinch a spot on the 53-man roster.
"The general battles that you see are who's your returners? What guys are returning in what roles? You look at your fifth, sixth receivers," said head coach Brian Callahan when I asked him about weighing the impact a player has on offense and special teams. "Those are the questions that you’ve got to ask and the evaluations we have to make over the next few weeks. At those sort of bubble spots where your special teams contributors come from, how do you determine who's going to be able to help us the most offense and defense, and still play a very critical role on special teams?"
I think it speaks volumes that Jackson was the Titans' first choice at kick returner on Saturday night and certainly made the most of his opportunity. His stock is on the rise.
2. LB Chance Campbell
Chance Campbell's impressive performance on Saturday night was simply an extension of what he has been doing in Titans training camp this year.
Campbell is one player who has been a pleasant surprise for me. Now that he is fully healthy, the former sixth-round pick out of Ole Miss has been playing his best football in a Titans uniform.
With a team-leading seven tackles, one TFL, and one sack against the 49ers, Campbell carried over his strong practices into a game and showed why he is earning more opportunity. As I see things, Campbell is the ILB3 for the Titans behind starters Kenneth Murray and Jack Gibbens.
Campbell capped off his nice day with a game-sealing interception of 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs on a last second hail mary.
3. RT Nicholas Petit-Frere
Nicholas Petit-Frere is already the projected starter at right tackle just days after returning from his offseason injury. There are no more spots on the depth chart for NPF to climb, but the 24-year-old did a lot to solidify his place on the starting line during the Titans' preseason opener.
The starting offensive line held up well for quarterback Will Levis on Saturday night. Levis was not sacked and the first-team offense scored a touchdown on both of their offensive possessions.
Titans running back Tony Pollard had 35 rushing yards on just four carries thanks to the help he got from the right side of his offensive line. On Pollard's 24-yard highlight run, NPF was in the second level of the defense taking on a linebacker to pave the way for Pollard.
Will Levis instant reaction in Titans preseason opener vs San Francisco 49ers
Brian Callahan gave his starting quarterback two series on Saturday night.
