NASHVILLE – Chance Campbell's rookie season was cut short before it even started – he was placed on Injured Reserve two days before the 2022 season opener because of a knee injury.
"You go through a period of being upset and frustrated with the world about, 'Why me? or What if?," the Titans linebacker said at the time. "But you can't really live in that world. I had to find that silver lining."
Last year, after playing in four games, Campbell ended up on IR again. It was the start of a long offseason for the franchise's sixth-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.
Heading into Year 3, Campbell is looking to stay healthy, and make his mark.
He got off to a good start in the team's preseason opener on Saturday night – Campbell recorded a sack and eight tackles, and he closed the game out with an interception in a 17-13 win over the 49ers.
"I think any time you can help the team," Campbell said, "it feels good to help the team."
Titans Coach Brian Callahan had even more to say.
"He made plays kind of all night long," Callahan said of Campbell. "He made a bunch of tackles. He made some hits on the quarterback. I think he sacked the quarterback once. Just to see him come alive a little bit was great because we're looking for guys to keep coming in that room for depth purposes. There's opportunities there and he did a nice job taking advantage of it."
Campbell, who played in college at Ole Miss, stepped up at a position where the Titans were thin on Saturday night, as Garret Wallow was lost for the season the prior week with a pec injury, and inside linebackers Cedric Gray and JoJo Domann didn't play themselves because of injuries.
Campbell ended up playing a team-high 45 snaps on defense, and five more on special teams.
"It was just fun playing for Dennard's (Wilson) defense," Campbell said. "And for (linebacker coach) Frank (Bush) and the guys that we have in the room. It was just like, cool to go out, and be part of a new group. So just kind of fed off that, I think."
Campbell said there's room for improvement.
"I think there's always stuff to clean up on your first game," he said. "I think there's a lot of stuff that we wish we would have brought along. But I think there's good pieces that we did too. So I think it's this case with any game, but especially for your first one."
The Seahawks are headed to town for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday, and a preseason game on Saturday at Nissan Stadium.
While the Titans are expected to get some of their injured players back, Campbell will keep plugging along.
An opportunity is there on an inside linebacker unit that features Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Gibbens running with the 1s.
"I think it was a great outing for Chance," Callahan said. "You saw his confidence kind of start to bloom, and that's a good thing. He played loose and fast and aggressive. All the things we want to see from those guys. Otis (Reese IV) did as well. I mean, those guys both had a really nice game, I thought. And they're getting opportunities. And so when you get opportunities, you've got to make the most of them, and, I think to their credit, they have. And then James (Williams), I think is—I don't think James even knows how good he can be yet. He's still learning the position as a converted safety. But he's got some things that he flashes that are really impressive. And so, that's a battle. There are some battles going on back in that back of the back of the linebacker room, and they're taking advantage. All of them have taken advantage of increased opportunity because of the injuries that have occurred and really happy that they have."
