The Tennessee Titans improved to 2-0 in the preseason with a win over the Seattle Seahawks last night. While a win wasn't as exciting as it should be for the second week in a row, this contest still yielded more positives than Tennessee 's first victory over the San Francisco 49ers .
However, with roster cuts due at the end of the month, the margins to impress have thinned. Against Seattle, a sizable chunk of this Titans team was fighting for their place in the regular season rotation.
By our count, two players greatly helped their chances, alongside two who unfortunately didn't.
Defensive end Truman Jones has been a bubble candidate for the Titans' defense up to now. Posting 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in nine games last season, the third-year rusher needed a splash this preseason to keep his name firmly in the hat. Last night, he got it.
Aug 23, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates the sack from linebacker Truman Jones (56) against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jones matched last season's sack total in just one contest, logging another 1.5 as he terrorized the Seahawks offense. Jones split a fourth-quarter sack with Mohamoud Diabate that had Tennessee's sideline in hysterics. The two forced a Seattle turnover on the play that essentially ended the game.
Finishing with three tackles in total and one of the wildest highlights of the night, there is no argument that Jones helped his case for a roster spot come September.
It's like crying wolf at this point, but it's true every time. With Mitch Trubisky holding down the QB2 spot, Will Levis appears firmly on the outside of contention in the Titans' locker room. His showing last night didn't do him any favors, either.
Levis went just 4/9 passing, scoring 15 yards and enduring a sack in the process. He managed to rush for an equal metric on four attempts, but without throwing a score and coming in as the least effective QB, even behind Hendon Hooker , Levis simply didn't have the game he needed to.
He'll have one more shot at preseason redemption against the Chicago Bears next Saturday, Aug. 29, but it's almost safe to say already that time has run out for Levis in Nashville.
Much like everyone else on this list, Julius Chestnut is toward the bottom of a position battle attempting to break through the floor. Most notably, Kalel Mullings has come up at his primary opposer in the Titans' backfield.
Mullings reportedly missed game two with a hip pointer, and for the second straight week, Chesnut led the running back room. Chesnut collected eight carries on his way to 48 yards, breaking off for a 15-yard rush that also went down as the longest of the night for Tennessee.
Chestnut even impressed through the air, hauling in three catches for 24 yards in total. That was also the most on the team. With a performance like that, it's hard to imagine that Chestnut didn't do himself a massive favor against Seattle.
Finally, remaining on offense, wide receiver Bryce Oliver came up short while direct position competitor Xavier Restrepo had a solid turnout. Oliver may have been the slight favorite coming into this contest, but his quiet zero catches on two targets can't be taken as good news.
August 13, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Bryce Oliver (80) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Restrepo, on the other hand, snagged two of his three targets for 10 yards. That's not a breakout showing by any means, but when the aforementioned Chestnut is leading the team with three receptions, each one goes a little further.
Oliver did manage a catch last week vs. San Francisco , but even then, Restrepo finished with one more. That sixth WR spot may be gradually beginning to favor the latter.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/titans/onsi as 2 Titans Players Who Helped Their Roster Case vs. Seahawks, and 2 Who Hurt it .
