Only minutes after the Titans lost 24-15 in their third and final preseason game Saturday, the conversation was on to roster formation.
It’s time for tough decisions to be made, as the Titans will have to trim the roster to 53 players by 5 p.m. CT Sunday.
kAm%96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 E92E :?:E:2= db\>2? C@DE6C H2D =:<6=J D6E 367@C6 $2EFC52JVD 4@?E6DE[ 3FE %:E2?D 4@249 #@36CE $2=69 D2:5 96 H@F=5 DE:== 4@?D:56C E96 7:?2= :>AC6DD:@?D =67E 3J 2 ?F>36C @7 A=2J6CD @? E96 3F33=6]k^Am
Defensive end Jacob Martin of the Tennessee Titans vs. the Chicago Bears in a preseason game at Nissan Stadium on Aug. 29, 2026, in Nashville.
Photo: Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
kAm“%96C6 2C6 DE:== 8@:?8 E@ 36 `_ @C D@ 8FJD H9@ 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 324<[ 2?5 ;FDE E96 564:D:@?D 92G6 E@ 36 >256[” $2=69 D2:5] “%9:D :D 2=H2JD E96 92C56DE A2CE @7 42>A]k^Am
kAm“%96C6VD D@ >2?J 8FJD H9@ J@FVC6 E6==:?8 E96> 7@C E96 =2DE E:>6 E92E :EVD AC@323=J @G6C[ G6CDFD E96C6VD D@>6 8FJD H9@ J@F ;FDE <?@H H:== 86E 4=2:>65 @C E96:C 42C66C :D ?@E @G6C] %9@D6 2C6 92C5 4@?G6CD2E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 7:G6 E2<62H2JD 7C@> E96 4@?E6DE 2E }:DD2? $E25:F>[ 2D E96 %:E2?D 7:?:D965 E96 AC6D62D@? H:E9 2 a\` C64@C5ik^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$:EE:?8 E96 DE2CE6CDik^DEC@?8m x? E96 52JD =625:?8 FA E@ E96 7:?2= AC6D62D@? 4@?E6DE[ $2=69 :?5:42E65 96 H@F=5 A=2J 9:D 7:CDE E62>6CD[ A6C92AD <66A:?8 E96> :? E96 82>6 7@C 4=@D6 E@ 2 92=7]k^Am
kAmqFE 27E6C 2?@E96C :?E6?D6 ;@:?E AC24E:46 — E9:D @?6 H:E9 E96 q62CD @? %9FCD52J — $2=69 49@D6 :?DE625 E@ D:E >@DE @7 E96 DE2CE6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 @?=J EH@ @776?D:G6 DE2CE6CD H9@ D2H 24E:@? H6C6 C@@<:6D — 7:CDE\C@F?5 5C27E A:4< r2C?6== %2E6 2?5 7:7E9\C@F?5 5C27E A:4< u6C?2?5@ r2C>@?2] %2E6 H2D :? 7@C ;FDE @?6 D6C:6D[ 2D 96 H2D F?23=6 E@ 42E49 FA E@ 2 (:== {6G:D 566A A2DD 2?5 6?565 E96 AC6D62D@? H:E9@FE 2 C646AE:@? @? D:I E2C86ED]k^Am
kAms676?D:G6=J[ E96 @?=J DE2CE6CD E@ D66 =:>:E65 24E:@? H6C6 =:?6324<6C r65C:4 vC2J[ ?:4<6= 4@C?6C |2C4FD w2CC:D 2?5 5676?D:G6 6?5 y24@3 |2CE:?[ H9@ AC@5F465 2 7F>3=6]k^Am
kAm$2=69 D2:5 E96 DE2CE6CD 8@E >@C6 @FE @7 ;@:?E AC24E:46D E92? AC6D62D@? 4@?E6DED]k^Am
kAm“*@FVC6 ,D66:?8. >@C6 D496>6[” $2=69 D2:5 @7 E96 ;@:?E AC24E:46D] “xEVD ?@E 82>6 A=2??:?8[ 3FE
J@FVC6 86EE:?8 >@C6 G@=F>6] *@FVC6 D66:?8 >@C6 7C@> E96 @E96C E62>] %96 :?E6?D:EJ :D 2 =@E 9:896C] *@FVC6 ?@E 2D 42FE:@FD H:E9 C682C5D E@ ECJ:?8 E@ 2G@:5 :?;FCJ H:E9 A6@A=6 @? E96 8C@F?5]k^Am
kAm“xEVD 24EF2==J >@C6 G@=F>:?@FD :? E96 D6?D6 @7 J@FVC6 86EE:?8 d_ C6AD :? =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC 2?5 2 92=7] xEVD ;FDE 4@?56?D65[ D@ E96 4@?5:E:@?:?8 =6G6= :D 92C56C]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{6G:D DH2? D@?8nk^DEC@?8m x? E96 62C=J 52JD @7 EC2:?:?8 42>A[ (:== {6G:D D2:5 96 76=E 96 H2D 2 DE2CE:?8 }u{ BF2CE6C324<[ 255:?8 E92E 96 5:5 ?@E 36=:6G6 E96C6 H6C6 ba 36EE6C BF2CE6C324<D E92? 9:> :? E96 }u{]k^Am
kAm{6G:D 8@E 2 492?46 E@ D9@H 9:D DEF77 $2EFC52J[ 2D 96 H2D 8:G6? E96 6?E:C6 7:CDE 92=7 E@ H@C<]k^Am
kAm%96 E9:C5\J62C BF2CE6C324<[ 2 a_ac D64@?5\C@F?5 A:4<[ 925 9:D FAD 2?5 5@H?D H9:=6 4@>A=6E:?8 `c\@7\aa A2DD6D 7@C `cb J2C5D[ 8@@5 7@C 2? ga]a BF2CE6C324< C2E:?8]k^Am
kAm~? E96 %:E2?D’ D64@?5 5C:G6[ {6G:D =2J6C65 2 362FE:7F= A2DD E@ E:89E 6?5 zJ=6? vC2?D@? 7@C 2 ag\J2C5 82:?] qFE @?6 A=2J =2E6C[ 96 325=J >:DD65 )2G:6C #6DEC6A@ @? 2? 62DJ 369:?5\E96\=:?6 @7 D4C:>>286 A2DD ?62C E96 =67E D:56=:?6]k^Am
kAm{6G:D 6?8:?66C65 2 `_\A=2J[ f`\J2C5 7:6=5\8@2= 5C:G6 E@ 6?5 E96 7:CDE 92=7[ 2?5 96 AC@323=J D9@F=5 92G6 925 2 E@F495@H? A2DD E@ %JC6? |@?E8@>6CJ[ @? 2 A6C764E=J =@7E65 566A 32== 5@H? E96 =67E D:56 E92E H6?E E9C@F89 |@?E8@>6CJ’D 92?5D]k^Am
kAm{6G:D 5:5 E9C@H E9C66 A2DD6D E@ #6DEC6A@ 7@C df J2C5D @? E96 5C:G6]k^Am
kAmqFE :E’D 92C5 E@ 36=:6G6 {6G:D’ @G6C2== AC6D62D@? A6C7@C>2?46 — a`\7@C\bh Wdb]g A6C46?EX[ a__ J2C5D — H2D 6?@F89 7@C 2?@E96C E62> E@ EC256 7@C 9:>]k^Am
kAmxE D66>D >@C6 =:<6=J {6G:D H:== 36 @?6 @7 E96 %:E2?D’ 4FED[ D:?46 %6??6DD66 92D 2 DE2CE6C :? (2C5[ 2 324<\FA :? |:E496== %CF3:D<J 2?5 2 A@E6?E:2= AC24E:46\DBF25 BF2CE6C324< :? w6?5@? w@@<6C]k^Am
kAm“x C62==J 2AAC64:2E6 (:==[” $2=69 D2:5] “x E9:?< 96’D 366? 2H6D@>6 ]]] x E9@F89E 96 925 2 C62==J 8@@5 EH@\>:?FE6 5C:G6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 92=7] '6CJ 8@@5 2H2C6?6DD H:E9 E96 E:>6 ]]] ~G6C2== D:EF2E:@?2==J[ x E9@F89E 96 5:5 2 C62==J ?:46 ;@3 E@52J]”k^Am
kAm$2:5 {6G:D[ H96? 2D<65 E@ C67=64E @? 9:D E:>6 :? }2D9G:==6i “'6CJ[ G6CJ 8C2E67F=] x >62?[ ,%:E2?D @H?6C p>J p52>D $ECF?<.
3C@F89E >6 :? 96C6 2?5 H6=4@>65 >6 H:E9 @A6? 2C>D 2D H6== 2D 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 96C6 :? }2D9G:==6 2?5 E96 E62>] x H2D 23=6 E@ 8C@H 2 =@E ;FDE
E9C@F89@FE E96
4@FA=6 D62D@?D x’G6 925 H9:=6 x H2D A=2J:?8 96C6 2?5 x H@F=5?’E EC256 :E 7@C 2?JE9:?8]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$64@?52CJ E@C4965 282:?ik^DEC@?8m x? E96 %:E2?D’ 7:CDE EH@ 82>6D[ :E H2D AC:>2C:=J E96 E62>’D DE2CE:?8 D64@?52CJ E92E H2D D>@<65 3J @AA@?6?ED’ C6D6CG6 BF2CE6C324<D]k^Am
kAm$2? uC2?4:D4@’D zFCE:D #@FC<6 4@>A=6E65 `a\@7\`c A2DD6D 7@C `_` J2C5D :? E96 7:CDE AC6D62D@? 82>6[ 2?5 $62EE=6’D sC6H {@4< 7@==@H65 E92E FA :? E96 D64@?5 AC6D62D@? H:E9 2 `a\@7\`c A6C7@C>2?46 7@C `_b J2C5D 2?5 @?6 E@F495@H?]k^Am
kAm~? $2EFC52J[ E96 %:E2?D’ D64@?5 DEC:?86CD AC@G65 6BF2==J F?23=6 E@ DE@A 2? @AA@D:?8 A2DD:?8 2EE24<]k^Am
kAmr9:428@’D %JD@? q286?E 4@??64E65 @? `e\@7\`f A2DD6D 7@C a_g J2C5D 2?5 EH@ E@F495@H?D :? E96 7:CDE 92=7[ 8@@5 7@C 2 `de]h BF2CE6C324< C2E:?8]k^Am
kAmq286?E’D =@?86DE A2DD H2D 9:D 7:CDE[ 2D 96 4@??64E65 @? 2 hf\J2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD E@ C@@<:6 +2G:@? %9@>2D[ H9@ =67E %:E2?D 4@C?6C324< z6J5C2:? r2==:82? :? E96 5FDE @? 2 DE@A\2?5\8@ C@FE6 5@H? E96 C:89E D:56=:?6]k^Am
kAm$@ 2=E@86E96C[ @AA@D:?8 “DE2CE6CD” — #@FC<6[ {@4< 2?5 q286?E — 4@>3:?65 E@ 4@>A=6E6 c_\@7\cd A2DD6D Wgg]h A6C46?EX 7@C c`a J2C5D[ E9C66 E@F495@H?D 2?5 K6C@ :?E6C46AE:@?D E9:D AC6D62D@? 282:?DE E96 %:E2?D]k^Am
kAmxE’D 72:C E@ D2J E96 %:E2?D’ D64@?52CJ 8@E =:EE=6 E@ ?@ 96=A 7C@> E96 A2DD CFD9 7@C >@DE @7 E96 AC6D62D@?]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ E9@D6 ?F>36CD DFCC6?56C65 2C6 2=>@DE F?36=:6G23=J 325]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!FD9:?8 7@C DE2CE:?8 C@=6nk^DEC@?8m %:E2?D C@@<:6 =:?6324<6C p?E9@?J w:== yC][ 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 A:4<[ 4@?E:?F65 H92E 92D 366? 2? :>A24E7F= AC6D62D@? 2D 96 C64@C565 D:I E24<=6D — E:65 7@C E96 E62> =625 — :?4=F5:?8 7:G6 D@=@ DE@AD]k^Am
kAm%92E 82G6 w:== 2 E62>\9:89 `d E24<=6D W:?4=F5:?8 `_ D@=@ DE@ADX :? E96 E9C66 AC6D62D@? 4@?E6DED]k^Am
kAmw:== 2?5 4FCC6?E DE2CE6C r@5J q2CE@? 2C6 3@E9 FD65 E@ A=2J:?8 E96 >:55=6 =:?6324<6C A@D:E:@?[ 3FE :E’D H@CE9 H@?56C:?8 H96E96C E96 %:E2?D >:89E FD6 w:== :? E96 >:55=6 2?5 AFD9 q2CE@? E@ @?6 @7 E96 @FED:56 =:?6324<6C DA@ED — @AA@D:E6 r65C:4 vC2J]k^Am
kAm%96C6’D ?@ 5@F3E E92E E96 A=2J\>2<:?8 w:== 92D E96 A9JD:42= 23:=:E:6D E@ 92?5=6 E96 A@D:E:@?] xE’D =:<6=J ;FDE 2 BF6DE:@? @7 H96E96C E96 %:E2?D ECFDE E96 J@F?8DE6C H:E9 2== E96 4@>>F?:42E:@? C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D E92E 4@>6 H:E9 A=2J:?8 >:55=6 =:?6324<6C]k^Am
kAm“w6 925 2 C62==J 4@@= C6A H96C6 96 925 2 C646:G6C AC6EEJ >F49 :? >2E49
4@G6C286 @? 2
4C@DD:?8
C@FE6[ 2?5 ,96. H2D 23=6 E@ >2:?E2:? ,4@G6C286. H:E9 9:D 2E9=6E:4:D> ]]] H9:49 x
E9@F89E H2D :>AC6DD:G6[” $2=69 D2:5] “w6 5:5 2 8@@5 ;@3 H:E9 ]]] 9:D
A@DE\9F55=6 4@>>F?:42E:@?] ~G6C2==[ :E 76=E 8@@5]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m+6C@ AC6D62D@? E@F495@H? A2DD6Dik^DEC@?8m %96 %:E2?D D4@C65 2 =2E6 E@F495@H? :? $2EFC52J’D =@DD E@ r9:428@[ >62?:?8 %6??6DD66 E@E2=65 2== @7 E9C66 %sD :? `a AC6D62D@? BF2CE6CD]k^Am
kAm#F??:?8 324< %@?J !@==2C5 D4@C65 @?6 CFD9:?8 E@F495@H? 282:?DE $2? uC2?4:D4@ 2?5 s’tC?6DE y@9?D@? D4@C65 EH@ CFD9:?8 %sD — @?6 282:?DE $62EE=6 2?5 @?6 282:?DE E96 q62CD]k^Am
kAm}@?6 @7 E96 %:E2?D’ 7@FC BF2CE6C324<D — (2C5[ |:E49 %CF3:D<J[ {6G:D @C w@@<6C — H2D 23=6 E@ 4@>A=6E6 2 AC6D62D@? E@F495@H? A2DD]k^Am
kAmpD C676C6?465 62C=:6C[ {6G:D D9@F=5 92G6 925 2 E@F495@H? A2DD @? 9:D 566A E9C@H E@ |@?E8@>6CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 %:E2?D 5:5?’E 8:G6 {6G:D 2 =2DE @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 2 E@F495@H? A2DD[ 2D E96 E62> 49@D6 E@ <:4< 2 7:6=5 8@2= 7C@> E96 f\J2C5 =:?6 @? E96 =2DE A=2J @7 E96 92=7 — EC2:=:?8 `c\e — :?DE625 @7 8@:?8 7@C E96 %s]k^Am
kAmy@6J $=J6 AC@G65 E@ 36 E96 %:E2?D’ @776?D:G6 9:89=:89E 5FC:?8 E96 AC6D62D@?[ 2D 96 4@??64E65 @? ``\@7\`` 7:6=5\8@2= 2EE6>AED[ :?4=F5:?8 7:G6 @7 >@C6 E92? d_ J2C5D]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 6G6CJ@?6 42? C642== 2 E:>6 :? E96:C =:76 H96? E96J H6C6 AFE E@ E96 E6DE[” $2=69 D2:5 @7 $=J6] “,w6 925. 2 325 3=F6\H9:E6 82>6[ 2?5 2== @7 2 DF556?[ 2 3F?49 @7 <:4<6CD D9@H FA E@ H@C< E96 ?6IE 52J[ 2?5 E96? J@F … 5@?VE 6G6? 7=:?49] %92EVD
y@6J] %92EVD H9J E96C6VD 2 =@E @7 4@?7:56?46 :? 9:> 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 D62D@?]”k^Am
