The Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take the field on Saturday for their first preseason game of the summer, and with tensions already heightened after a joint practice session, it should be a good one. 

Incredibly, the Titans will enter the game with the majority of their starting line-up in place, and many of those players will see action for at least a series or two in this game. That is where it will turn interesting for Titans fans, as the young guys and veterans fighting for depth roles take over and try to catch the eye of the coaching staff. 

When Tennessee hits the field, the only positions that remain up for grabs outside of depth roles would be in the return game and possibly inside linebacker, but that doesn’t mean the entire 53-man roster is set. There are still many battles taking place that are critical to the team’s success in 2025. 

Here is a look at five position battles to watch on Saturday when the Titans take the field against the Buccaneers.

Inside linebacker

While James Williams appears to have worked his way to the top of the depth chart with his performance early in training camp, there is still a long way to go, and the performance in the game will go a long way in determining the pecking order. Williams was again solid during the joint practice, even notching an assist on Xavier Woods’ interception, but some of his competition is starting to make a move. Linebacker Cedric Gray has stacked some solid practices, and both Anfernee Orji and Otis Reese have started to show some life. 

One of the biggest areas to watch is how this unit plays once Cody Barton leaves the field. The veteran free agent addition has not only become the vocal leader of the group, but he is also a coach on the field. How these players step up in his absence will be key in determining their final pecking order. 

Return specialists

The Titans released their first depth chart, and it has James Proche and Jha’Quan Jackson at the top of the heap in the kickoff and punt return positions, but that is extremely fluid heading into this preseason game and the season. As special teams coordinator John Fassel has said, it is impossible to simulate this area in practice, so the in-game performance carries extra weight.

For both Proche and Jackson, their performance will have a direct impact on their chances to make the final 53-man roster as well, with both players deep on the wide receiver depth chart heading into the game. 

Rookie wideout Chimere Dike, running backs Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut, and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo will all have a chance to make an impact, and one could argue that their hold on a positional roster spot is more secure at this point. 

Defensive line

It has been well documented that the Titans’ starting defensive line is set. However, with Jeffery Simmons and Sebastian Joseph-Day likely to see limited snaps and T’Vondre Sweat likely sidelined, there will be plenty of opportunities for a player to step up and earn some added reps and work their way into a depth role. 

Heading into the game, James Lynch would likely be the top reserve, but his hold on that spot isn’t totally locked in. While he is somewhat established at defensive end, the interior spot behind Sweat is a wide-open battle. Timmy Horne will likely get the first shot, but there will be plenty of chances for someone to step up. 

Offensive line

As is the case with the defensive line, the starters are set, but there are questions with depth heading into the first preseason game. This has also been complicated by the absence of veteran lineman Blake Hance, who has yet to practice in pads. Heading into camp, Hance was viewed as a solid gameday utility piece and first backup at multiple spots along the line. That could still happen, but he needs to get going. 

In his absence, players have seen some added reps and are making their mark. One of those is Jaelyn Duncan, who is making a strong case to be the top reserve at tackle. With the starting unit likely playing limited snaps, this second group should have a chance to show what they can do against a solid defense. 

Tight end

The top two in the unit, Chig Okonkwo and Gunnar Helm, appear to be set, but behind them, it is wide open. Plus, with needs elsewhere on the roster, the tight end position will likely see fewer bodies on the initial 53-man roster than in 2024, and it is possible that the Titans only keep three. 

If that is the case, David Martin-Robinson, Josh Whyle, and John Ojukwu could be battling for one spot. Martin-Robinson has been surging early in camp and would likely have the inside track heading into this game, but in-game performance and special-teams work could hold a lot of weight heading deeper into training camp.    Â