The Tennessee Titans conclude the 2015 preseason tonight at LP Field against the Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff is set for 7 PM CT. The game will be available on your Titans and Vikings preseason outlets, plus on the NFL’s Game Pass streaming service (how I’ll be watching) and will eventually be replayed on NFL Network.
The fourth preseason game is the least interesting of the four. Since even Jeff Fisher has now stopped taking it seriously, basically no coach does. Starters play at most a series or two, and often they don’t even dress at all, especially if like last year weather conditions were adverse. Some teams don’t even play key reserves, instead relying on the the third-stringers, most of whom are going to get cut in the two days after the game. Best available evidence indicates the Titans’ starters are likely to play a little bit, though of course those isolated showers and thunderstorms in the forecast could change those plans.
That said, the game is not likely to be totally devoid of interest, so here are a few things to keep your eye on:
1. No injuries. I normally mention it last, just because the other things are more interesting to talk about, but for tonight’s game this really is the biggest key. Having a starter or key reserve get carted off with a season-ending injury in a fourth preseason game would be sad.
2. Players returning from injuries. Blidi Wreh-Wilson was back practicing and couple probably use a few reps, since he’s missed the entire preseason to date. The Titans were reportedly high on outside linebacker J.R. Tavai before he got hurt in the first preseason game against Atlanta. Dorial Green-Beckham could use more playing time after missing the Chiefs game.
3. Linebacker depth. Both inside and outside. A couple players who could use reps and who I want to be impressed by should be back-Tavai, plus Zaviar Gooden (also injured against the Falcons). Jonathan Massaquoi, Deiontrez Mount, Justin Staples, anybody else, this is another opportunity to win playing time and make this not the perfect time to panic if one of the starters goes down.
4. Tackling. It was bad last week, with Zach Brown the most prominent but not the only culprit. This is another opportunity to tackle people who don’t want to be tackled.
5. Wide receiver depth. Plenty of question marks beyond the top three. More work for Green-Beckham, Justin Hunter (expected to play after this week’s court date), plus another chance for Jacoby Ford and Tre McBride to make their case, both on offense and on returns.
6. Defensive back depth. If the Titans are as likely to keep ten defensive backs as I think they are, with Jason McCourty likely to miss time, another chance for players like Cody Riggs, Khalid Wooten, Marqueston Huff, and even Jemea Thomas to show they should have a job and get playing time, both early in the season and later. Heck, with Wreh-Wilson out the first three games, we can’t even be sure how the Titans want to line up in nickel against Tampa Bay in ten days.
I’ll be watching this game live and commenting about it on Twitter, so follow and yap at me there if you wish. Recap up after the game, then it’s on to roster cuts.
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