Tennessee Titans fans entered the 2026 season believing sophomore tight end Gunnar Helm would play a big role in the offense. Fast forward through Week 4 and that hasn’t been the case. Let’s examine Helm’s early involvement in Brian Daboll’s offense.
Helm ranks third on the Titans in receptions, but has just nine catches. The former Texas standout is also third in targets (12), but ranks fourth in receiving yards (60). Rookie Carnell Tate has essentially dominated all air-yardage opportunities, especially
after his breakout performance in Week 4 further skewed the numbers. Helm has not scored a touchdown, but was on the receiving end of Cam Ward’s two-point conversion on Sunday.
Helm has surprisingly not seen a single red-zone target. In fairness, the Titans have consistently run the football, even stubbornly, once inside the 20-yard line. Extrapolating Helm’s current production into a 17-game sample size, he’s currently on track for fewer receptions, yards, and touchdowns than he accumulated as a rookie in 2025. He was productive last campaign, catching 44 balls for 357 yards and two scores. Even his yards per reception (6.7) is down (8.1).
The Titans signed veteran tight end Daniel Bellinger to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency. His annual $8 million price tag suggested he might eat into Helm’s workload, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. Helm has outsnapped Bellinger 179-85.
Helm has been on the field for 78.85% of the offense’s snaps. That’s a noticeably bigger workload than his rookie season included (50.47%). Yet his production is way down.
The Titans appear hellbent on using Helm as a blocker more frequently than they did last season. That’s confusing, because he’s a better pass catcher, and the presumption was Bellinger was signed to primarily handle in-line blocking duties. PFF has Helm with 67 run-blocking snaps, compared to Bellinger’s 49.
The ball isn’t finding Helm enough in the passing game. Coach Daboll could also make personnel-related changes to how Helm is being deployed. The Titans’ inconsistencies on offense and time of possession issues surely haven’t helped, but Daboll hasn’t put Helm in the best imaginable positions to be successful yet.
