At the start of training camp, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan indicated that the team would play its starters during the preseason.
As the Titans prepare for their preseason Week 1 contest against the San Francisco 49ers, it looks like Callahan is going to follow through on that.
Callahan revealed on Thursday that the Titans will indeed play their starters for one or two series on Saturday night. However, outside linebacker Harold Landry and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons will not be among them.
It remains to be seen if we'll see starting cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who has been limited all camp. We know we definitely won't see cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, both of whom are dealing with injuries.
Simmons and Landry have been taking part in practices recently, so their sitting out doesn't appear to be injury-related.
Brian Callahan says #Titans starters will play 1-2 series in the preseason opener.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) August 8, 2024
Depends on how those series go.
Nick Vannett, Harold Landry and Jeffery Simmons won’t play.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) August 8, 2024
The Titans playing their starters during the preseason is a departure from the norm of the previous regime, which regularly sat starters for the exhibition slate.
It makes total sense for the Titans to give their starters some game reps ahead of the 2024 campaign, as not only does the team have many new faces on both sides of the ball, Tennessee is also installing a new offense and defense.
The spotlight will be on second-year quarterback Will Levis, who is looking to cement himself as the long-term solution in Tennessee. We'll also get to see him throwing to two of his new weapons, wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley.
The Titans will open their preseason slate on Saturday night when they welcome the reigning NFC champs, the 49ers, to Nashville.
