The Tennessee Titans are progressing towards their second of three preseason contests on their slate. The Titans will have their hands full with the Seattle Seahawks, who are entering the second game following their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.
The Titans have plenty of players who they will need more from, and the one who had one of the more underwhelming performances of the week against the San Francisco 49ers is the player I am watching the closest.
It’s Worth Watching Carnell Tate Closely Against the Seahawks
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The player who is worth watching the closest is rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate. Tate is going to be a player who has to show up in a better fashion than he did during his first-ever preseason game with the Titans. The Titans rookie was a monster when it comes to the college scene, as he was one of the more electric players in the country in many aspects of the position.
The one thing that stood out to me the most when the Titans drafted the former IMG Academy High School five-star was the fact that he wasn’t a drop-ball receiver. He was consistent with his hands, as he was likely bringing the ball in when it came to contested catches, but when he was open, he wasn’t dropping the football.
His consistency in college has yet to pick up in the NFL, as he finished the game against the 49ers with no catches on three targets. For a wide receiver to be drafted within the first five selections of an NFL Draft, there are expectations that come with his draft stock. Not only will he be expected to be a No. 1 wide receiver on the Titans this season, but he will also need to become a 1,000-yard receiver in 2026.
Tate was outshined in the game against the 49ers. The second-round selection and rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling finished with seven receptions, all of which came within the first half of the game. By no means am I or anyone asking for Tate to have a stat line like that against the Seahawks, but he has to wipe the slate clean entirely and move forward. He will need to finish this game with multiple catches, especially considering the Titans will be playing the starters for a longer period of time in this contest.
The Titans need Carnell Tate at his best if they are going to win football games. It is as simple as that.
