Titans QB Cam Ward has declared himself 'perfectly healthy' after a shoulder injury, and has lost 10 pounds to feel faster and more durable. He is getting significant reps in the new offense and building chemistry with WR Carnell Tate
We spent so much time earlier this year thinking and talking and writing about the 2026 NFL Draft . It makes sense, given that for most of the offseason, we didn't know who would be drafted where or how they would affect their new teams. Even now that they've been drafted, we've only had a short while to figure out who fits best and what we should expect from them as rookies. But that doesn't mean we should just push the 2025 draft class aside. The players selected just last year will have a significant impact on their teams in 2026, for obvious reasons. In the space below, we're going to look at 15 players taken fairly early in the draft, detail the biggest questions facing them in Year 2 and examine what the answers might mean for their respective teams. Ward had one of the worst supporting casts in the NFL last season. His pass-catchers couldn't get open and struggled to actually catch the ball when they did. The offensive line was seemingly broken for most of the year. Tennessee addressed the first part of that equation by signing Wan'Dale Robinson and drafting Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick. But did the Titans do enough on the offensive line to make sure Ward has enough time to find his targets down the field? We'll find out in September. Hunter lasted only seven weeks before suffering a non-contact knee injury that knocked him out for the rest of his rookie season. Given his size and workload, there will always be questions about whether he can hold up long term. But there are also questions about where he'll actually play on a down-to-down and week-to-week basis . Before he got hurt, the Jaguars started shifting his usage to make him more of a wide receiver than a cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. But entering this season, the Jags have Brian Thomas Jr. , Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington at receiver and not quite as much strong depth in the defensive backfield. Will his snaps now lean more toward the defensive side of the ball? And if so, how much will he actually contribute as a receiver? Carter finished 12th in the NFL with 66 pressures, according to Tru Media. He also ranked 46th in pressure rate out of 271 players who rushed the passer 100 times or more. But because Carter converted just four of his pressures into sacks, he checked in 211th among that group in sack-to-pressure ratio. That's not something you'd expect to continue for someone who showed such a strong ability to get near the quarterback. Can he finish the job more often in Year 2? For most of his rookie season, Campbell was a solid if relatively unspectacular left tackle. He checked in 39th out of 85 qualified tackles in PFF's pass-blocking grades from Weeks 1 through 12. But after suffering a knee injury that kept him out for about a month, Campbell struggled badly. He finished dead last out of 81 qualified tackles in pass-blocking grade and allowed 15 pressures in four games. His short arms meant people were skeptical of his ability to stick at tackle, and the struggles down the stretch exacerbated those concerns. We'll find out quickly how much of those struggles were injury-related and how much were about him perhaps needing to play another position. Jeanty averaged just 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie, with a 41% rushing success rate. He caught 55 passes but finished 56th among 66 running backs who ran at least 100 routes in yards per target. Like Ward, Jeanty experienced a terrible situation during his rookie season, working behind a decrepit offensive line in perhaps the worst offensive environment in the league. With Klint Kubiak, Tyler Linderbaum and more in the fold, things should be better this year. Can Jeanty's production follow? McMillan had a terrific rookie season, catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished the year with a very solid 1.86 yards per route run average, which was 32nd in the NFL. Generally, star receivers get about 2.00 yards per route. Can McMillan take a s
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Coach Robert Saleh said Thursday that Ward (shoulder) is "perfectly healthy" to begin OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. Ward sustained a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder in the Titans' Week 18 loss to the Jaguars last season but avoided surgery and seems to be 100 percent for the offseason program. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Ward started all 17 regular-season games as a rookie and completed 323 of 540 pass attempts (59.8 percent) for 3,169 yards (5.9 yards per attempt), 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also absorbed a league-high 55 sacks. The Titans have done quite a bit to upgrade Ward's supporting cast this offseason, first signing Wan'Dale Robinson before using the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 Draft on Carnell Tate. Tennessee also signed offensive linemen Austin Schlottmann, Cordell Volson and Austin Deculus in free agency
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh stated that second-year quarterback Cameron Ward is "perfectly healthy" after a late-season shoulder injury. Ward is participating in offseason workouts and is expected to be a full participant in training camp. Despite a challenging rookie year, the team expects Ward to improve in his second season with an upgraded offense and new play-caller
This offseason, there was less speculation about Matthew Stafford’s future and retirement timeline than in previous years, and that could become more of a trend than an outlier despite him being the second-oldest expected starter in the NFL at age 38. Rams fans could be looking forward to at least four more years of Stafford being the oldest starting quarterback in the league. The reasons for him playing until he’s 40 and beyond are growing faster than the grey hairs in his beard. Retirement is a personal decision and could have nothing to do with an ability to play football or make money. Aaron Donald recently emphasized that he always planned to retire after eight seasons and was only enticed to return for two more years because of the Super Bowl. Stafford may want to retire if he wins a second Super Bowl. Or he might want to retire if L.A. does not win the Super Bowl this year. Only he knows the answer. But if he wants to play five more years, it’s hard to believe he lacks the ability to do it.. NFL teams drafted Bryce Young and Cam Ward with the first overall pick in 2023 and 2025 respectively, under the assumption that those quarterbacks would soon become the faces of the NFL. Well, Young and Ward combined to throw 38 touchdown passes in 2025, which is nine fewer than Stafford’s 46 touchdowns en route to winning MVP and also leading the league in passing yards. Ward was only a rookie last year and was not surrounded by much talent. Young is a limited passer who has not proven he can lead a high volume offense, but did take the Panthers to the playoffs at age 24. However, these aren’t outliers. These are examples of a frightening trend of incoming first round quarterbacks proving to be worse than expectations: *benched or in a QB competition in 2026 2019 draft: Kyler Murray*, Daniel Jones 2020 draft: Joe Burrow , Tua Tagovailoa*, Justin Herbert , Jordan Love 2021 draft: Trevor Lawrence , Zach Wilson*, Trey Lance*, Justin Fields*, Mac Jones * 2022 draft: Kenny Pickett * 2023 draft: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud , Anthony Richardson* 2024 draft: Caleb Williams , Jayden Daniels , Drake Maye , Michael Penix , JJ McCarthy*, Bo Nix 2025 draft: Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart Even in that group of 23 quarterbacks, of the 14 expected starters in Week 1, at least half have a lot to prove before they’re expected to be starters in 2027 and 2028. We saw the lack of belief the league has in young starters late last season when the Indianapolis Colts favored 44-year-old Philip Rivers over any other options that could have been available. His historically-bad athletic limitations were outweighed by the Colts belief in his football IQ and experience. Matthew Stafford is six years younger than Rivers was last season. It’s not that a team would want a 44-year-old quarterback with a weak arm, but this could imply that a 41 or 42-year-old Stafford is far better than the average 25-year-old quarterback. Four of the top-five quarterbacks in passing yards last season were 28 and older: Sam Darnold was the second-youngest at 28 Jared Goff was 31 Dak Prescott was 32 Stafford was 37 Maye was the only outlier and he was a hair from winning MVP. But he was not within a hair of Stafford’s actual value. No offense to Maye and he could be on a trajectory to be unbelievably good next season or 2027, but he was abysmally bad in the playoffs in spite of the Patriots reaching the Super Bowl. Maye was overrated last season and similar to Stroud in 2023, his season-long stats were considerably uplifted by having two or three dominant performances against the worst teams in the league. Maye had 5 touchdowns against the Jets, two more scores than he had in any other game. The NFL’s hope for quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Maye “proving” that they are about to take over the league because of the seasons and playoff runs they had in 2025 will have to go a lot better than Jayden Daniels’ second season or Stroud’s second season, or they risk becoming
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The Tennessee Titans unveiled their complete 2026 season schedule on Thursday . The Robert Saleh era will begin by hosting the New York Jets in Week 1. They’ll then play the Philadelphia Eagles at Nissan Stadium in Week 2. The rebuilding Titans are attempting to take a progressive step forward in 2026. The sophomore Cam Ward year should yield more than three victories in a season for the first time since 2023. If the Titans are to be more competitive this coming campaign, they’ll need to take advantage of easier stretches on the schedule. We’ve identified the easiest three-game stretch on the schedule. The Titans will host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. It will be the divisional rematch after visiting Indianapolis in Week 6. The Colts are sorting through uncertainty with starter Daniel Jones returning from a devastating season-ending Achilles injury. The Titans need to start contending with an average Colts team in the AFC South. Will the Las Vegas Raiders be starting rookie No. 1 overall quarterback Fernando Mendoza by the time they visit Tennessee in Week 16? Probably. There are rumors that Kirk Cousins may begin their season as the starter, but surely Mendoza will get into the lineup eventually. Teams that start rookie quarterbacks typically struggle. The Titans learned that the hard way last season. The final home game at the current iteration at Nissan Stadium will be against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. The Rodgers-Saleh sidebar adds another intriguing layer to this pivotal moment in franchise history. The Steelers were awfully average with Rodgers in 2025 and it’d be surprising if they were significantly better in 2026. The Titans should take advantage of a favorable matchup at Old Nissan Stadium
The new Tennessee Titans stadium isn’t ready yet, but reportedly already has a signature event. The 2030 Super Bowl — otherwise known as Super Bowl LXIV — will reportedly be hosted at New Nissan Stadium, according to NFL Network. That’s not finalized yet, but NFL owners are expected to approve the motion at the league’s spring meeting Tuesday, per Ian Rapoport. While it might seem early for the NFL to determine the site of the 2030 Super Bowl, that timeline is consistent with how the league operates. The league already has the locations of the next three Super Bowls set in stone. In 2027, the event will be hosted in SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams . Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans will host the event in 2028 and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will have it in 2029. Should the owners approve Nashville as the site of the 2030 Super Bowl, it would mark the first time in the history of the event that it will occur in the city. While ground has been broken on New Nissan Stadium, the venue isn’t expected to open until 2027. That adds some uncertainty to Tuesday’s vote, though that should be plenty of time to get the stadium up and running ahead of the 2030 Super Bowl, even if construction experiences a few delays. The game could come at a good time for the Titans. If last year’s No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward can develop as expected, it’s possible the Titans could be among the AFC contenders to appear in the 2023 Super Bowl. That seems far off considering the team went just 3-14 in Ward’s rookie year, but it’s something for Titans fans to dream on
In another lost season for the Tennessee Titans in 2025, fourth-round rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor saw plenty of opportunities and finished as the team's second-leading receiver with 41 catches on his 89 targets for 515 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games (14 starts). The 22-year-old out of Stanford wasn't very efficient, though, with a catch rate of 46.1% and plenty of drops in an inconsistent offense led by rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. While Ayomanor's first year in the league has to be considered a success after he was drafted in the fourth round, he's unlikely to get as many chances to produce going forward as he did last season, considering Tennessee's offseason additions at the wideout position. The Titans added target hog Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and drafted former Ohio State star pass-catcher Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick. Veteran Calvin Ridley (leg) is still on the roster, and second-year tight end Gunnar Helm is also expected to have an expanded role in the passing game. Oh, and there's also fellow second-year receiver Chimere Dike to compete with. It's going to be difficult for Ayomanor to rise above his rookie production going forward in Tennessee. RotoBaller has him ranked just inside the top-100 dynasty WRs at No. 92
As the NFL schedule makers navigated the innumerable iterations of the 2026 NFL schedule, they took risks on some big quarterback decisions and remained conservative on others. Scheduling Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for “Monday Night Football” on Week 1 was their first risk. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in December and continues to rehabilitate toward a return . League executives said Friday they did not have inside information about Mahomes’ health or timeline. “As far as Patrick Mahomes, look, we didn't know anything more than anyone else,” NFL EVP of media distribution Hans Schroeder said. “But the Chiefs are an incredible story. They're one of the most popular teams in the league right now. They've been on an incredibly successful run for a number of years now and have built a hugely popular fan base. So we went into the year planning to play the Chiefs in the same number of windows. “We didn't know anything more than you did, but we were certainly hoping Patrick would be back Week 1.” The Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14 in what the league will also hope is Denver quarterback Bo Nix’s return from a broken ankle in the divisional round. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thursday on NFL Network that Mahomes is “doing great right now” as he rehabilitates for seven hours a day and “wants more.” “He’s making progress, but you don’t know…” Reid said. “If it’s Pat[’s desire], he’d go play today. But that’s not where we’re at here. We’ve got time and let’s see where we’re at.” Reid said he did not share information with the schedule-makers, joking about the toll of the league’s increasingly ambitious international slate. “I don’t give them anything, dadgumit,” Reid said. “You give them too much, you’re going to be playing over in Australia dadgumit.” The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday night of the first week. The Tennessee Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward first overall last season. They played in zero prime-time games during his rookie year and are scheduled for zero again in his sophomore year. And Ward’s successor as the first overall pick? Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s debut date remains in question as he joins veteran Kirk Cousins in the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback room. But Mendoza or not, the NFL will not guarantee the Raiders a prime-time game . “Nobody knows if or when Mendoza might play,” NFL VP of broadcasting planning Mike North said. “It’s certainly something that would be great if we knew. We don’t. But they went out and signed a very competent quarterback. And if they find themselves playoff relevant and hovering around .500 in the middle of the season, they might be a little more reluctant to pull the trigger and move to the rookie. “If they’re playoff relevant, they will find themselves in a bigger national television window, whether it’s Sunday night, Monday night or just a bigger national footprint on a Sunday afternoon.” The NFL has the ability to flex late-season games to prime-time windows. They did not flex the Titans last year but could flex the Raiders this year if Las Vegas exceeds competitive expectations. The Raiders and Titans join the New York Jets , Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins as teams scheduled for zero prime-time windows this year. In comparison, the Los Angeles Rams have seven prime-time appearances followed by several teams with six or five. “That’s what flexible scheduling is for,” North said. “That's why we put it in. That's why we work with our partners every year to ensure that the teams that have played their way into bigger television windows have an opportunity to be rewarded when we get into November and December and the crystal ball isn't always as clear as we hoped.” Competitive potential, rather than star power, will dictate schedule, Schroeder said. Four of the five teams shut out of prime time won just three games last year. The Miami Dolphins won se
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Though they drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in April, the Raiders are one of five teams without a scheduled primetime game in 2026. That's not something new from the NFL, as the Titans didn't have a primetime game in 2025 either after selecting quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. While the Raiders are a storied team with a nationally recognized brand, the fact that the team has won just seven games over the last two seasons is surely factoring into how attractive — or, in this case, unattractive — the club is for games in a standalone window. In a conference call on Friday, NFL VP of broadcasting planning Mike North was asked whether or not the uncertainty of Mendoza being Las Vegas ’ starting quarterback factored into the decision to keep the Raiders out of a primetime slot. “As far as the Raiders go, I mean, nobody knows if or when Mendoza might play ,” North said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. “It would certainly be great if we knew. We don't. But they went out and signed a very competent veteran quarterback, and if they find themselves, you know, hovering around .500 and playoff-relevant in the middle of the season, they might be a little more reluctant to pull the trigger and move to the rookie. And if they are playoff-relevant, they will find themselves flexed into bigger national television windows, whether it's Sunday night, Monday night, or just a bigger footprint on a Sunday afternoon. “Not to point fingers, but I think the best comp is probably Tennessee from last year. They drafted No. 1 overall, took a quarterback who looks like he can play in this league, [and] they didn't happen to get a national television appearance last year, either. … We don't draft our way into primetime. We play our way into primetime.” While head coach Klint Kubiak and the rest of the Raiders’ brass have said that they’d prefer to have a veteran start over a rookie quarterback early, Mendoza could be in the starting lineup sooner than later over veteran Kirk Cousins . We’ll see how Las Vegas’ quarterback situation plays out and whether or not the club can play its way into a flexed primetime spot as the season unfolds
Though they drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in April, the Raiders are one of five teams without a scheduled primetime game in 2026. That’s not something new from the NFL, as the Titans didn’t have a primetime game in 2025 either after selecting quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. While the Raiders are a storied team with a nationally recognized brand, the fact that the team has won just seven games over the last two seasons is surely factoring into how attractive — or, in this case, unattractive — the club is for games in a standalone window. In a conference call on Friday, NFL VP of broadcasting planning Mike North was asked whether or not the uncertainty of Mendoza being Las Vegas’ starting quarterback factored into the decision to keep the Raiders out of a primetime slot. “As far as the Raiders go, I mean, nobody knows if or when Mendoza might play ,” North said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. “It would certainly be great if we knew. We don’t. But they went out and signed a very competent veteran quarterback, and if they find themselves, you know, hovering around .500 and playoff-relevant in the middle of the season, they might be a little more reluctant to pull the trigger and move to the rookie. And if they are playoff-relevant, they will find themselves flexed into bigger national television windows, whether it’s Sunday night, Monday night, or just a bigger footprint on a Sunday afternoon. “Not to point fingers, but I think the best comp is probably Tennessee from last year. They drafted No. 1 overall, took a quarterback who looks like he can play in this league, [and] they didn’t happen to get a national television appearance last year, either. … We don’t draft our way into primetime. We play our way into primetime.” While head coach Klint Kubiak and the rest of the Raiders’ brass have said that they’d prefer to have a veteran start over a rookie quarterback early, Mendoza could be in the starting lineup sooner than later over veteran Kirk Cousins. We’ll see how Las Vegas’ quarterback situation plays out and whether or not the club can play its way into a flexed primetime spot as the season unfolds
The Detroit Lions’ schedule for 2026 has officially dropped . If Detroit wants to improve upon their 9-8 season from the year prior, they need to not only win the easy games, but also win those toss-ups against tough foes and divisional opponents. While the Lions benefit on paper from a fourth-place schedule, winning in the NFL is no easy task. Pre-summer expectations go out the window once the regular season rolls around—what looks like an easy schedule in May could materialize into a gauntlet by season’s end. Let’s examine their slate of games to see which ones should be cakewalks and which ones could pose a significant challenge. While 2026 should be less of a train wreck for the Jets, they nonetheless remain one of the worst teams in the NFL and should be easy pickings for the Lions . There’s the added bonus that the Lions are playing them at home and early in the season—if the Jets are going to turn things around, it won’t happen this early. If anything, I wish that this was a road game in order to give Detroit a tougher opponent at home instead. Is Malik Willis enough to turn around a barren Dolphins team? I think not, but stranger things have happened before. As it stands, this should be a dominant victory for Detroit. A road game in Miami in November should yield modest temperatures as well. Unless De’Von Achane runs away with the game, this is a very winnable matchup for Detroit. Normally, I would rank a late-season game as a tougher matchup, as there is a higher likelihood of missing key starters. That being said, even a depleted Lions roster should outclass the Titans, barring a massive step forward from Cam Ward and company under new head coach Robert Saleh. I do think their defense could be sneakily good, however. With Jeremiyah Love, Trey McBride , Marvin Harrison Jr. , Michael Wilson , and Tyler Allgeier , the Cardinals have a fair number of weapons on offense that could scare the Lions defense. However, they have a major question mark at quarterback. I doubt that Jacoby Brissett is the answer, and it might take longer than Week 5 for Carson Beck to get a shot—even then, the rookie slid to the third round for a reason. The Panthers made the playoffs last season, but it was due to a paltry NFC South division resulting in an 8-9 team winning the crown. They lost one of their few spark plugs in Rico Dowdle to free agency, meaning that the offense will have to be carried by Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan . McMillan has promise, but time is running out on Young to show that he is more than a middling quarterback. Much like the Cardinals, the Falcons have a ton of offensive weapons but significant issues at quarterback. Unless one of Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa can run demonstrate some reliability, they may be a team forced to rely on the playmakers around them. Unlike the Cardinals, I think they can survive with subpar quarterback play thanks to Bijan Robinson , who can and will single-handedly carry that offense. The Lions draw the Giants for a late-season “Monday Night Football” tilt. While it seems like an easy victory for the Lions in May, a John Harbaugh-led Giants team could look significantly different by season’s end. For as bad as the Giants looked last season, the bulk of it can be placed on Brian Daboll at head coach and injuries to Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo . With Arvell Reese added to an already dangerous pass rush, they could be a team that outperforms low expectations. My hot take is that the Saints should run away with the NFC South title this season. Sure, that might not mean much when the Panthers won it with a losing record last year, but I genuinely think they have a high ceiling. Tyler Shough was quietly great in his rookie season, while the offense has only gotten better with the additions of Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson—the Saints defense is decent as well. A Week 1 home game is favorable for the Lions, who get to face a team that might not have found their groove yet. W
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The Tennessee Titans unveiled their complete 2026 schedule on Thursday . Robert Saleh’s squad will begin their campaign against the New York Jets in Week 1, and conclude it versus the Houston Texans in Week 18. With the schedule officially revealed, we know when the Titans have their juiciest revenge-game opportunities. The Titans will begin their season against the Jets in a matchup littered with storylines. Saleh will coach against his former employer, as will his assistants Aaron Whitecotton, Tanzel Smart , and Marquand Manuel. Ex-Jets on the Titans roster include John Franklin-Myers , Jermaine Johnson II , Jordan Elliott , Tony Adams , and Michael Carter. Of course the Jets have T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee. The New York Giants matchup might be even juicier than the Jets contest. Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll certainly has that one circled, along with assistants Shea Tierney and Carmen Bricillo. The Titans also signed Wan’Dale Robinson, Austin Schlottmann , Daniel Bellinger , and Cor’Dale Flott. On the Giants’ side, they have Dennard Wilson and Brian Callahan on the coaching staff. The Titans briefly pursued John Harbaugh as head coach, who quickly took the Giants gig. Furthermore, they hired Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator after his connection to Mike Borgonzi failed to help him land the Titans job. There’s also the battle of sophomore quarterbacks Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart . Wowza! The Titans arguably hit rock bottom against the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Brian Callahan was dismissed as head coach following that letdown. They’ll play the Raiders again in Week 12 this campaign with sights on proving Saleh has improved the organization. The Raiders have since hired Klint Kubiak and drafted Fernando Mendoza, so they’ve undergone sweeping changes since last year’s Titans meeting. Titans front-office exec Reggie McKenzie is the Raiders’ former GM, and the organization also hired 2025 Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy this offseason
In the clearest expression of disapproval that the NFL annually sends to rebuilding franchises, five teams are not scheduled to see a single minute of prime-time football this season. This season’s list includes the New York Jets , Las Vegas Raiders , Miami Dolphins , Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals . This is the second straight season the Titans haven’t had a single game slated for prime time, as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints . Interestingly, it sets up a scenario where the past two No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft — the Titans’ Cam Ward and Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza — will have gone through their rookie season without playing in prime time. It also would mean that Ward would have been iced out of prime time for the first two years of his career. Find NFL tickets on Gametime | More NFL team schedules While the league never overtly admits it, the prime-time freeze out is often absorbed as a message to team ownership about getting organizations into a competitive plateau from one season to the next. The Jets, Raiders, Titans and Cardinals all went 3-14 last season while settling into last place in their respective divisions. The outlier is the Dolphins, who went 7-10 — but then followed that mediocre performance up by effectively gutting most of the team this offseason. Interestingly — but perhaps not coincidentally — those teams have comprised five of the six longest betting odds to win the Super Bowl for much of this offseason , with the Browns often mixed into the bottom six. I’d never suggest the NFL considers sports wagering interest when it comes to how the prime-time schedule is stacked up, but it certainly doesn’t help that ancillary pipeline of revenue when you’re showcasing what oddsmakers believe are the worst franchises. Here’s a quick snapshot of how the teams ended up getting shut out: You’ll never convince me this isn’t a continued echo of the NFL’s dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2024 and 2025 — only to watch the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span. Frankly, it takes a lot for the league to ice a team in its No. 1 media market, but there doesn’t appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season. Maybe that changes in 2027 if the Jets meet low expectations and end up with Arch Manning on the roster in 2027. The Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield. What unfolded was a mess of infighting on the coaching staff and an offense that was atrocious in a massively disappointing campaign. And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft. Even with Fernando Mendoza now in the fold and a revamped coaching staff, I doubt the league was in a hurry to reward the Raiders after last season’s flop. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament The Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season. A rebuild that looks like it’s essentially going to the studs and taking almost all of the star power with it doesn’t inspire much confidence of a surprise season. There’s a price to starting over in a fashion that suggests it wi
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In the clearest expression of disapproval that the NFL annually sends to rebuilding franchises, five teams are not scheduled to see a single minute of prime-time football this season. This season’s list includes the New York Jets , Las Vegas Raiders , Miami Dolphins , Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals . This is the second straight season the Titans haven’t had a single game slated for prime time, as they were shut out in 2025 along with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints . Interestingly, it sets up a scenario where the past two No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft — the Titans’ Cam Ward and Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza — will have gone through their rookie season without playing in prime time. It also would mean that Ward would have been iced out of prime time for the first two years of his career. Find NFL tickets on Gametime | More NFL team schedules While the league never overtly admits it, the prime-time freeze out is often absorbed as a message to team ownership about getting organizations into a competitive plateau from one season to the next. The Jets, Raiders, Titans and Cardinals all went 3-14 last season while settling into last place in their respective divisions. The outlier is the Dolphins, who went 7-10 — but then followed that mediocre performance up by effectively gutting most of the team this offseason. Interestingly — but perhaps not coincidentally — those teams have comprised five of the six longest betting odds to win the Super Bowl for much of this offseason , with the Browns often mixed into the bottom six. I’d never suggest the NFL considers sports wagering interest when it comes to how the prime-time schedule is stacked up, but it certainly doesn’t help that ancillary pipeline of revenue when you’re showcasing what oddsmakers believe are the worst franchises. Here’s a quick snapshot of how the teams ended up getting shut out: You’ll never convince me this isn’t a continued echo of the NFL’s dissatisfaction over scheduling the Jets for 11 total prime-time/flex/international games in 2023 and 2024 — only to watch the franchise sink to an 8-26 record over that two-year span. Frankly, it takes a lot for the league to ice a team in its No. 1 media market, but there doesn’t appear to be a lot of faith in the Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith-led franchise this season. Maybe that changes in 2027 if the Jets meet low expectations and end up with Arch Manning on the roster in 2027. The Raiders got three prime-time games last season with head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith , suggesting there would be some juice to squeeze during the season, particularly with one of college football’s most exciting running backs — Ashton Jeanty — stepping into the backfield. What unfolded was a mess of infighting on the coaching staff and an offense that was atrocious in a massively disappointing campaign. And it looked worse late in the season when the Raiders appeared to have shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late in the season as they were in contention for the first pick in the draft. Even with Fernando Mendoza now in the fold and a revamped coaching staff, I doubt the league was in a hurry to reward the Raiders after last season’s flop. The Dolphins got six prime-time/international games last year but managed to muster only a 7-10 season that showcased a roster and quarterback situation in a massive state of decline. The following reboot — with a sweeping out of general manager Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (among many others) — decimated any inspiration to feature the Dolphins this season. A rebuild that looks like it’s essentially going to the studs and taking almost all of the star power with it doesn’t inspire much confidence of a surprise season. There’s a price to starting over in a fashion that suggests it will be years before another competitive team materializes. And this zero burger in prime time is part
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One thing we know for sure about the NFL is that we really have no idea which good teams will be in the upcoming season. That makes sitting here in May trying to predict a record for any team a dumb exercise, but hey, what else are we going to talk about in May? On paper, the Titans’ schedule doesn’t look nearly as tough as the gauntlet they faced in 2025, but as I said above, what we think we know about teams right now will change a lot between now and when the games are actually played. Here is the Tennessee Titans’ full 2026 schedule: Week 1 – vs. New York Jets 12 PM Week 2 – vs. Philadelphia Eagles 12 PM Week 3 – @ New York Giants 12 PM Week 4 – @ Baltimore Ravens 12 PM Week 5 – vs. Houston Texans 12 PM Week 6 – @ Indianapolis Colts Week 7 – vs. Cleveland Browns 12 PM Week 8 – @ Cincinnati Bengals 12 PM Week 9 – BYE Week 10 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 12 PM Week 11 – @ Dallas Cowboys 12 PM Week 12 – @ Jacksonville Jaguars 3:05 PM Week 13 – vs. Washington Commanders 12 PM Week 14 – Detroit Lions 12 PM Week 15 – vs. Indianapolis Colts 12 PM Week 16 – @ Las Vegas Raiders 3:05 PM Week 17 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 12 PM Week 18 – @ Houston Texans 12 PM As for predictions, the Titans’ floor should be six wins. They get the benefit of playing rebuilding teams like the Raiders, Jets, and the perpetually rebuilding Browns. I’d have trouble putting the ceiling above 9 wins, but you can squint and see a world where the defense is really good, and Cam Ward takes a big step forward to get them past nine. Be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs
The author provides game-by-game predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles' 2026 schedule, attempting to maintain accuracy based on previous years' predictions. The article touches on team performance, potential player development like Cam Ward, and upcoming opponents, including specific matchups against the Commanders, Titans, Bears, and Rams. The piece also briefly mentions Sean Mannion and Jordan Davis in the context of team performance and historical matchups
The New York Giants will reportedly host the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season , bringing former Giants head coach Brian Daboll , former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh , and a host of former Giants players back to MetLife Stadium. Daboll was fired midway through the 2025 season by the Giants, having compiled a 20-40-1 won-loss record in 3½ seasons as head coach. The Giants were 2-8 when Daboll was replaced by Mike Kafka . Daboll was hired as Titans’ offensive co0rdinator during the offseason. Several former Giants players joined Daboll in Tennessee as free agents. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson , cornerback C or’Dale Flott , tight end Daniel Bellinger , and center/guard Austin Schlottmann all signed with Tennessee. Former Daboll assistant coaches Carmen Bricillo (offensive line), Shea Tierney (quarterbacks), Cade Knox (offensive assistant/game management), and Marquand Manuel (defensive backs) are also in Tennessee. Manuel also previously coached with the Jets. Saleh went 20-36 as head coach of the Jets from 2021-2024. Giants’ quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan was fired as Titans’ head coach with Tennessee at 1-5 last season. In one-plus years in that role, Callahan had a 4-19 record. New York offensive coordinator Matt Nagy interviewed for the head-coaching role in Tennessee that went to Saleh. The Titans also feature several former Jets players — Jermaine Johnson , Solomon Thomas and John Franklin-Myers . The game will also be a matchup of the two quarterbacks selected in Round 1 last season. Tennessee selected Cam Ward No. 1, and the Giants traded up to take Jaxson Dart at No. 25. The complete schedule will be announced Thursday night. Follow our schedule tracker for news and rumors throughout the day
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