NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Saints in the preseason finale on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Will Levis
Starting quarterback Will Levis will play again this week after sitting out the team's second preseason contest vs the Seahawks. It will be his final tune-up for the regular season. Levis completed 4-of-5 passes for 35 yards in Week 1 of the preseason vs the 49ers, and he also ran for a score. Levis is expected to get a more extended audition on Sunday, when he'll be able to work off the rust and build momentum for the regular season opener vs the Bears.
Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis
The quarterbacks are always in the spotlight, and that's the case with back-ups Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis, who are both expected to play on Sunday as well. Coach Brian Callahan hasn't officially named the team's No.2 QB for the season, although all signs point to it being Rudolph, based on his experience, and his strong performance training camp. Willis hopes to convince the team he's worthy of a roster spot.
O-line chemistry
The starting five appears to be set, looking like this: LT JC Latham, LG Peter Skoronski, C Lloyd Cushenberry, RG Dillon Radunz, RT Nicholas Petit-Frere. While Radunz and NPF haven't officially been named starters, Callahan said it's trending that way. What the Titans want to see here is the group developing further chemistry to be ready for Week One. Also, they need to make sure the starting quarterback doesn't take a big hit in the preseason.
Ryan Stonehouse
The last time Titans fans saw punter Ryan Stonehouse in a game he was being helped off after suffering a knee injury in a December 2023 game against the Colts. After surgery, a long rehab and recovery process, and then a few weeks of practices, Stonehouse is set to return to the field for the first time this preseason on Sunday. It's the last phase of Stonehouse's return-to-play plan, and it will be great to see him hitting bombs again.
Defense's Intensity
The reality is we're not going to really know what defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's defense is going to look like until the regular season. Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry, L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Arden Key are among those not expected to play against the Saints. Plus, Wilson is not going to reveal just how aggressive his unit is going to be until the regular season begins. But it's been fun to watch the hungry-looking unit in the preseason, and this will be another tone-setting game.
Last-Ditch Efforts
Callahan said this week roughly four to six spots on the team's 53-man roster are up for grabs, indicating some tough decisions are on the horizon as roster cuts loom. While most of the evaluations are complete based on what's been seen during the offseason, in 13 training camp practices, and the first two preseason games, there's still one more game to make an impression. Some of the Titans who'll play on Sunday won't make the 53-man roster, but their game tape could help them land on another roster by this time next week.
