A new season is finally here!
So preseason is over and I can honestly say I am filled with equal parts dread and hope.
When it started it was all a bit of a disaster. I could not help thinking we were about to have a repeat of last season.
Yet the last game of the preseason showed fans what we could be. There was more cohesion in those 60 minutes than there has been in years.
I am hopeful for the rookies we have, as well as the returning players.
Running back Julius Chestnut had a particularly good game. That hurdle over Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward was a thing of beauty. Olympic-worthy even!
Wide receiver Van Jefferson also shone. He had 102 yards from three passes including a 65-yard touchdown.
Record breakers
Kicker Joey Slye also had an outstanding night against Minnesota with a record-breaking – yet not – 63-yard field goal.
I say that because like the copious amounts of chocolate that you devour at Easter it both does, and does not, count. And that is not because it pinged around the uprights and the crossbar like a pinball machine.
According to NFL record regulations, as it happened in the preseason, it is not a valid record breaker. Much like when I eat that large Easter egg in one sitting and tell myself it was only one serving so that is okay.
Technically, Rob Bironas’ 60-yard kick against the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 still holds the “official” Nissan Stadium record. However, Slye has shown with his record-not-record kick last weekend that he can beat it.
Finalising the roster
Once again, our linebackers stood out. Cedric Gray in particular had a very good night with five tackles.
However, he was flagged for one in particular that was reminiscent of The Undertaker at WWE Smackdown in the early 2000s. Yet he is still making a very good case for himself to be the starter alongside Cody Barton.
He cannot slow down though as James Williams Sr is chasing him for that coveted spot. He also showed up with an interception near the end of the second quarter to end Minnesota’s drive right before half time.
Tuesday’s deadline came and went, and so too did the inevitable cuts. For me, the biggest surprise was the loss of tight end Josh Whyle. He played all 17 games in 2024, recording 28 catches for 248 yards and one touchdown.
Unfortunately, it seems rookie Gunnar Helm, with veterans Chig Okonkwo and David Martin-Robinson, were able to deliver when it was needed, securing their spot on the 53-man roster.
Another surprise is perhaps the waiving of undrafted free agent Xavier Restrepo. However, he has been kept on the practice squad so his time in Tennessee is not up just yet.
New quarterback is number one
Quarterback Cam Ward has, of course, made it to the final roster as predicted and secured himself the coveted number one spot.
Something I did find out is that all four of his targets when he was at Miami have not made the cuts on their respective teams.
Maybe with NFL-ready receivers, we can see even more incredible things from him.
The season opener against the Denver Broncos is just around the corner, and it is definitely a tough game to start with. They ranked third in defense last year so are sure to put Ward and the Titans offense to the test right out of the gate!
