Tennessee Titans training camp: Winners and losers from Week 1

USA Today

6 days ago

Will James Williams be a starter on the #Titans defense this year?He snagged a nice pick off Cam Ward today 🔥 #TitanUp(🎥 @Titans on IG) pic.twitter.com/nOg0AUXskG
The Tennessee Titans have an off day Sunday after wrapping up their first week of training camp on Saturday with an open practice at Nissan Stadium.
Although it's early, an air of excitement surrounds this team as they head into the 2025 season, and there is genuine hope that they can turn things around after a disastrous 2024 season. With a new young quarterback and a new attitude throughout the organization, the future looks bright.
Throughout the first week of practice, it was clear that the youth movement is real, and the coaching staff and front office are prepared to lean on their young talent heading into the season. While there will surely be some bumps in the road, the risk is worth the reward.
With the first week in the books and the players enjoying some downtime, it's time to take a look back at some of the winners and losers from the three open practices.
Winner: LB James Williams
Many outside the organization had Otis Reese pencilled in as the starter next to Cody Barton, but it has been James Williams who has come to camp and opened some eyes. The former college safety looks comfortable at linebacker and is flying around and making plays (including an interception on Saturday).
The 2024 seventh-round pick opened camp by receiving first-team reps during the team's initial 7-on-7 sessions and has continued to build upon that. If the young linebacker can continue to develop, his addition could add even more athleticism to a new-look defense.
Loser: LB Otis Reese IV
Many expected Otis Reese to open camp as the leader in the battle for the open linebacker spot next to Barton in the middle of the Titans' defense. Unfortunately, he has been virtually invisible during the opening sessions. Of course, that could all change when the Titans move into padded practices, but for now, it appears he has lost some ground to Williams in the competition for the starting job.
Winner: QB Brandon Allen
The immediate winner in the aftermath of the surprise announcement that Will Levis was headed to injured reserve due to a shoulder injury was Brandon Allen. While it was likely he was ticketed to stay with the organization in some capacity to help Cam Ward with his transition into the NFL, Allen is now firmly entrenched as the Titans' backup quarterback heading into 2025, and can continue his role helping head coach Brian Callahan ease Ward into the league.
Loser: WR Treylon Burks
What started as a story of redemption took a turn for the worse on Saturday when Treylon Burks fractured his collarbone while diving to make a reception early in practice. This is the latest injury setback for the former first-round pick, and it may mean it's the end of the line for his career with the Titans.
Winner: S Kevin Winston Jr.
Kevin Winston was finally able to hit the field after missing all of the offseason activities rehabbing his torn ACL, and the rookie has made the most of it. Widely regarded as one of the top safety prospects in college before an injury wiped out most of his 2024 season, the young defensive back looks fluid and a natural fit for the Titans' system, and is already flashing starter potential in his first days of on-field work. Winston brings athleticism and physicality to the position and appears to be a player with a skill set who could help Tennessee slow down opposing tight ends, an area they struggled with in 2024.
Kevin Winston Jr. is going to be a factor for the #Titans defense this season. pic.twitter.com/bu2cgNInTT
Loser: CB L'Jarius Sneed
L'Jarius Sneed still hasn't taken the field with the team in any major capacity in 2025, and opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after undergoing a clean-out procedure on his knee in May. The veteran cornerback has been a significant disappointment during his time in Nashville, and fans are growing increasingly impatient. With no timetable for his return other than week-to-week, there is a growing concern that the Titans may have to look outside the organization for some veteran depth in their young cornerback room.
Overall outlook
Over the first couple of practices, the new-look defense has looked sharp and is making plays, but the offense is coming on after a solid showing on Saturday. With Will Levis out for the season, Cam Ward is the unquestioned starter and is receiving 100 percent of the first-team reps, something that will benefit the young signal caller heading into the season.
One group of players that could be considered potential losers heading into the next few weeks is veteran depth players. Tennessee has already begun the process of trimming the bottom of its roster and has parted ways with a few veterans. Keondre Coburn and Colton Dowell are already casualties of the youth movement underway in Nashville, and it's possible that more could follow as they head deeper into camp.
With the team transitioning from football in shorts to padded practices, look for the Winners and Losers list to grow in the coming weeks.