The Tennessee Titans will be back at it with another practice on Saturday as they continue to push toward their first preseason game next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Friday, the offense started to find a groove and took a step forward against a defense that had dominated the opening days of padded practices. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward still wasn’t perfect, but it was his best day in pads, and now he must build upon that as camp begins to slow down.

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Although the development of the offense is a hot topic, with a battle brewing at the wide receiver position with Xavier Restrepo, Bryce Oliver, and James Proche all starting to make a case for a spot on the roster, today we turn our attention to the defensive line for the position battle we are keeping an eye on.

Starting defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat sat out Friday’s practice with an abdominal injury and is day-to-day. His absence should give some of the young defensive linemen extra reps and the ability to work their way into the mix for a depth role.

Early in training camp, the Titans parted ways with reserve defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, which opened the door for young players like Cam Horsley and Isaiah Raikes to make the roster. Now, with Sweat sidelined, the door opens even more.

Tennessee recently brought in veteran nose tackle Timmy Horne to add some experienced depth to the competition. But with a full-blown youth movement underway, Horsley and Raikes would appear to have the inside track. Both are undrafted rookie free agents, but Horsley was a priority, receiving the fourth-highest amount of guaranteed money on his contract. While the amount is minute compared to established veterans, it is still a nugget of information to tuck away.

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Horsley is a valuable run-stuffer with intriguing pass-rush upside. At 6-foot-3, 312 pounds, he brings enough size, strength, and technical refinement to anchor along the defensive line. Raikes is a prototypical run-stuffing nose tackle who does have a strong burst and quick first step, but like Hoesley, he is unrefined as a pass rusher.

The Titans are set with their starting front with Jeffery Simmons, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Sweat, but depth is a big question mark. Veteran James Lynch would appear to have the inside track as the top reserve on the unit, but after him, everything is wide open, and this is a chance for a young player to catch the eye of the coaches.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans training camp: Position battle to watch on Day 8