As the Tennessee Titans prepare to hit the field against the San Francisco 49ers tonight for their preseason opener, it will be good to remember that this will be the first time the team truly goes full speed.
Yes, practice and joint practices have live elements, but they are still controlled, and some players are off-limits, which can skew production. That will not be the case tonight against the 49ers, and in some ways it will be the first chance to truly gauge where some of the position groups stand and how the competition is going.
With that in mind, here are four position groups to keep an eye on tonight when the Titans hit the field.
Cornerbacks
The Titans revamped their cornerback room during the offseason with the additions of Cor’Dale Flott, Alontae
Taylor, and Joshua Williams, yet entering the game, they still have some questions about how they will hold up. In the joint practice, the unit reportedly struggled against the 49ers' passing game, raising a question many have neglected: would a live pass rush have made a difference?
With quarterbacks being protected in training camp, some plays are ultimately extended where in a real game they wouldn’t be, which leaves defensive backs covering receivers for extended periods. While this may not be the case on Tuesday or even in previous practices, it can make a difference, and that is why seeing this group in game action is important to making a true evaluation.
Offensive line
While the battle along the interior will get most of the hype, and rightfully so, the entire line should be under the microscope. While the interior battles will work themself out, and eventually the starters will be named, it’s really the depth at tackle that must be watched to see what the Titans have behind Dan Moore and JC Latham.
The Titans offensive line must be better in 2026 than they were in the previous seasons, and in reality, their performance will determine the success of the offense as a whole and impact Cam Ward’s development.
Specialists/special teams
While two of the three specialists are set, monitoring Joey Slye in game action should be one of the focuses. Slye has struggled at times during training camp, and the Titans have been working out kickers since his disastrous performance in the Blue & White scrimmage. But on top of that, there will be a lot to keep an eye on.
The Titans' return game is in great hands with Chimere Dike, but what happens if he gets injured? Special teams coordinator John Fassel has discussed seeing other players get a shot, and tonight would be a great opportunity for someone to stand out.
These units will also be a place where some of the bubble players can make an impact and up their stock. Tennessee does have some interesting depth battles that are flying somewhat under the radar, and some of those eventual decisions will be directly influenced by the work done on special teams.
Wide receiver
This might be the deepest unit on the roster, and there will be some tough roster decisions that will have to be made in a couple of weeks, and some of the work being put on tape in the preseason could help make or break a player's chance at making the roster.
This unit, specifically Bryce Oliver, Xavier Restrepo, KJ Osborn, and others, will have a shot to make plays in real competition and add something on special teams, which could help build their resume heading deeper into training camp.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans preseason: 4 position groups to monitor against the 49ers
