Carnell Tate's dazzling play in the scrimmage may be the most notable moment from the Tennessee Titans' Blue and White Scrimmage, but it was not enough to mask the team's struggles.
The Titans' defense defeated the offense 10-9 at Nissan Stadium on August 7. This scrimmage was notable for its lack of tackling or full-speed special teams, making the actual football seem like an afterthought. Despite this, there were glimpses of what will matter for the Titans in 2026.
The team gave Peter Skoronski 100 million reasons to stick around for another four years, and also lit a fire among their online fanbase by transforming T-Rac from a brown cartoon raccoon into a gray cartoon raccoon.
Meanwhile, quarterback Cam Ward had a strong showing, and Tate's natural smoothness was on full display. He took a high pass from Ward and pulled it in with one hand without slowing down or stopping his forward momentum, continuing for yards after the catch.
Tate's deal since arriving in Nashville has been making incredible plays look mundane. This is something the Titans have been missing for just about their whole existence. Ward's performance was notable, and he's got Tate to bail him out now, but he's also playing in an offense where he can always find slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson on third down.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky also had a strong showing, and running back Tyjae Spears was a highlight, despite leaving with "irritation" and "soreness." The team's kicker, Joey Slye, struggled, missing short from 53 and missing wide from 48.
Linebacker Elic Ayomanor, who exited practice with a shoulder injury barely 24 hours before, was back on the field full speed in this one. He ran reps with Ward and with Trubisky, making a nice catch on a deep sideline fade for a first down on Trubisky's first drive.
Safety Femi Oladejo logged a tackle for loss in the red zone to stall Ward's first drive and force a chip-shot field goal, then he logged a sack to end Trubisky's second drive in a three-and-out. For a guy who missed so much time to injury in the last two years, showing up in consequential, high-leverage moments is the best salve.
The competition at right guard is not close to being resolved, with Cordell Volson, Jackson Slater, and Fernando Carmona all vying for the job. None of them have been able to stymie Jeffery Simmons.
Running back Kalel Mullings left practice with a hip pointer, and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers did not practice because of a lower back issue. However, coach Robert Saleh expects Franklin-Myers to be back for the team's next practice on August 9.
The Titans' struggles are a concern, but there are also reasons to be optimistic about the team's prospects. With the team's next practice just around the corner, fans will be eagerly waiting to see how the team will build on their performance in the scrimmage.
Source: Yahoo Sports