Titans at Bucs: 7 players with most to gain in first preseason game

The Tennessee Titans face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 9, in their first preseason game of 2025. The game falls in the middle of a 10-day stretch on the road. The Titans arrived in Tampa earlier this week and participated in a joint practice with the Bucs on Thursday. They’ll stay in Tampa until they travel to Atlanta to have a joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons ahead of their second preseason game.

This stretch will help prepare the team for its first six games of the season, when four of those games are on the road.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. The focus is on the Bucs, where we’ll get our first real look at Cam Ward and the other rookies drafted this year. Which begs the question: which players have the most to gain in this game? We’ve selected seven players who stand to gain the most with a positive performance against the Bucs on Saturday.

QB Cam Ward

This was an easy one. Cam Ward makes his NFL debut against the Bucs on Saturday, and everyone is watching with bated breath to see what he does. He needs to show command of the offense and maintain his composure in the face of adversity, and he has to ensure his timing is accurate. Everything we’ve heard out of the organization points to Ward starting in Week 1, but if he falters in any of the preseason games, doubt may start to creep in.

No one is really going to clamor for Brandon Allen to be the starting quarterback, but that could change if Ward doesn’t perform as expected. However, as long as Ward shows up and plays like he has this offseason, he shouldn’t have anything to worry about. In his debut, though, if Ward impresses, it will go a long way.

WR Elic Ayomanor

Elic Ayomanor is fighting for meaningful reps with the release of Treylon Burks. He is currently behind Calvin Ridley and Van Jefferson, but he’s already flashed in camp and has the potential to earn a starting role in 2025. If he can flash his physicality and route-running ability in a game setting, he may well earn that role sooner than later.

LB James Williams Sr.

James Williams is entering his second year in the NFL, and last season was a bit of a struggle. He appeared in 13 games in 2024 and recorded just 26 tackles (17 solo). However, he has shown incredible improvement this offseason and leapfrogged Otis Reese IV and Cedric Gray to earn the starting role. Williams has the opportunity to cement his starting role if he can showcase his range and tackling consistency. His confidence should be high after camp, and he can build on that against the Bucs.

DT Timmy Horne

T’Vondre Sweat has been out with an abdominal injury, and Timmy Horne is his backup. Sweat is the unquestionable starter when healthy, but if Horne can take advantage of the increased reps he’s received and prove that he belongs in the rotation, we may well see more of him as the season wears on. Sweat, Jeffery Simmons, and Sebastian Joseph-Day will have the majority of the reps on the defensive line, but Horne has the ability to get added into the rotation. After not playing in 2024 due to an Achilles injury, Horne is ready to be back on the field.

WR Chimere Dike

One of three fourth-round picks for the Titans, Chimere Dike is currently listed behind Tyler Lockett as a slot receiver. Known for his route-running, physicality, and ability on special teams, Dike can prove his value against the Bucs on Saturday. He’s competing against Mason Kinsey, James Proche, and Bryce Oliver for a roster spot, and a solid showing in the game will give him an edge over the fringe receivers.

CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally

Gabe Jeudy-Lally has improved a lot this offseason, and with L’Jarius Sneed on the PUP list, he’s listed as backup at both outside corner and nickelback. He’s flashed in camp this summer, and while he didn’t record any stats in 2024, he was part of the active roster for a time. Jeudy-Lally is a versatile player who has the ability to lock down a top-four corner spot, and a strong showing against Tampa’s receiving corps could put him into a rotational role.

G Jackson Slater

Jackson Slater was the Titans’ fifth-round draft pick in 2025. Right now, sits behind Peter Skoronski, but he will be competing with Blake Hance and other guards for a roster spot. However, Hance has been sidelined with a calf injury, so Slater will get extra reps in his stead, both in practice and preseason games. If he plays well enough, he could leapfrog into the second unit and even make a case for early-season activation.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans at Bucs: 7 players with most to gain in first preseason game

Titans at Bucs: 7 players with most to gain in first preseason game

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