The New Pantheon.

[Soapy]

Titans end preseason with solid showcase from the backups in win over Saints
The New Orleans Saints preseason not only ends with a loss, their first of the preseason, but did so while playing their starters against the Titans backups in a 24-14 loss.

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns but the offense ran out of a stream after a strong first quarter, failing to score for the rest of the game. Undrafted rookie Alonza Barnett III got the start and played the entire game after Jalen Milroe was ruled out with a shoulder injury during pre-game warmups.

Barnett finished the game 30 of 39 for 222 yards and three touchdowns, his lone interception coming on a drop.

Xavier Restrepo and Jayden Gibson put in their closing arguments
Jayden Gibson was targeted on the game's first three passes, all completions while Xavier Restrepo finished the game with eight receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Gibson had five catches for forty yards.

Both players got the start and their day ended around halftime, a promising sign that they may have done enough to earn a roster spot.

Restrepo finished the preseason with eighteen receptions for 221 yards and three touchdowns, all leading the team while Gibson is second with eleven catches for 129 and a touchdown. They've both made the most of their opportunities and if they don't make the roster, they probably never were going to.

Other winners from the finale
Deion Burks only had two catches but one of them was for a touchdown and he just seemed more confident out there, both on offense and special teams. He just need something -- anything -- to give him some momentum and some positive vibes around his name heading into cut day and coupled that with last year's special teams performance, he should make the roster.

Cedric Gray is probably the biggest winner from this game, finishing with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. Even more than that, when Gray got on the field, the defense really settled in and got better which is what you want from your linebacker.

Damien Martinez led the way with 92 yards on the ground, his route to a roster spot more clear now that Kalel Mullings was traded but far from guaranteed. He outplayed Jaivian Thomas today (8 for 52 with a fumble) but Thomas' speed does bring a different element than what Martinez brings.

Another standout was Malik Agbo who started at right tackle, which he hadn't played in a game yet this preseason. He was very solid in pass protection and in the running game, the 285-pound tackle didn't look that undersized and opened up some lanes for Martinez.

Stock down heading into roster cut weekend
It was a tough start for a couple of corners in Brice Pollock and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. who got beat for early touchdowns. On Browlee's touchdown, Brandon Smith had a clear shot on Nussmeier and he missed the sack which resulted in the long touchdown.

The reason for Agbo's start at right tackle is that Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson was out with an injury and with it, there goes his chances at making the roster which were already slim to begin with. He's likely looking at a injury designation or being cut straight out as the team wasn't going to carry more than four tackles and with Dawand Jones showing he's healthy enough to be a backup and Agbo having his best game at right tackle, his services are likely no longer required.

It was a strange day for receiver Elic Ayomanor who did get a touchdown but then was playing well into the fourth when it was just backups and reserves. Not only was Ayomanor out there, he didn't play that well down the stretch, dropping two would be touchdowns, including one that turned into an interception.

[djp73]

Hopefully the Milroe injury doesn’t become an issue

[Soapy]

Hopefully the Milroe injury doesn’t become an issue

Yeah, definitely need to carry 3 QBs because with him, if he does ever play, he's going to run a lot

[Soapy]

Gunnar Helm among cuts as Tennessee Titans finalize roster
The Tennessee Titans have finalized their initial 53-man roster by releasing twenty players, headlined by tight end Gunnar Helm.

Helm was a fourth round pick in 2025 and had been a mainstay in the Titans' offense since his rookie season, catching at least 25 passes in his first two seasons. The Titans signed free agent Darnell Washington in the offseason which pushed Helm to that third tight end spot where many still expected him to make the roster. The Titans instead chose to keep undrafted free agent Seydou Traore instead.

Other notable releases included punter Bradley Pinion, who was last year's starter, and linebacker Brandon Smith, who was initially signed in free agency to be Zaire Franklin's backup but lost the job to Cedric Gray.

Xavier Restrepo and Jayden Gibson both made the roster, along with Deion Burks, as the Titans are carrying seven receivers into the season, an usually high number. Preseason standouts Alonza Barnett III and Jaivian Thomas did not make the roster but have been added to the practice squad.

Quarterback
Starter: Cam Ward
Backups: Marcus Mariota, Jalen Milroe
Practice Squad: Alonza Barnett III

Running back
Starter: Mark Fletcher Jr.
Backups: Jam Miller, Damien Martinez
Practice Squad: Jaivian Thomas
Cuts: Zavier Scott

Wide Receiver
Starters: Justin Jefferson, Ja'Kobi Lane, Chimere Dike
Backups: Elic Ayomanor, Xavier Restrepo, Deion Burks, Jayden Gibson
Cuts: Jacolby George

Tight End
Starter: Chigoziem Okonkwo
Backups: Darnell Washington, Seydou Traore
Cuts: Gunnar Helm

Offensive Tackles
Starters: Josh Conerly Jr, J.C. Latham
Backup: Dawand Jones, Malik Agbo
Practice Squad: Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson

Guards
Starters: Peter Skoronski, D.J. Campbell
Backups: Kenyon Green, Jackson Slater

Center
Starter: Garrett Bradbury
Backup: Zach Rice
Cuts: Jon Gaines II

EDGE
Starters: Rueben Bain Jr, Oluwafemi Oladejo
Backup: Marcus Davenport, Azeez Olujari
Practice Squad: Nate Johnson
Cuts: Antwaun Powell-Ryland

Interior Defensive Line
Starters: Jeffery Simmons, T'Vondre Sweat
Backups: Jamaal Jarrett, Khyiris Tonga
Practice Squad: Nazir Stackhouse, Nick Gonzales

Linebacker
Starters: Zaire Franklin, Whit Weeks
Backups: Taurean York, Cedric Gray, James Williams Sr.
Practice Squad: Ben Roberts, Gabe Powers
Cuts: Brandon Smith

Cornerback
Starters: Roger McCreary, Jermaine Matthews Jr, Marcus Jones
Backups: Elijah Jones, Brice Pollock
Practice Squad: Marcus Harris, Alan Kendricks
Cuts: Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

Safety
Starters: Rasheem Giles, Kevin Winston Jr.
Backups: Isaiah Simmons, Joenel Aguero, Lonnie Johnson Jr
Practice Squad: Javier Skinner
Cuts: Nate Valcarcel

Specialist
Starters: K Brandon Aubrey, , P Ryan Eckley, LS Demetrius Barnett
Cuts: P Bradley Pinion

[Captain Canada]

Anything to keep Restrepo on the roster

This roster looks pretty good, Jettas really launches you into a new tier.

[djp73]

not seeing any big holes on that roster, you?

[redsox907]

lineup looks solid