The Tennessee Titans second preseason game saw them top the Carolina Panthers, but which three players stood out for the winning group?
There was high drama with the Tennessee Titans taking on the Carolina Panthers on Saturday in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason. Playing at home, the Titans jumped out to an early lead and were able to make some real noise with their first-team offense and defense. However, when the reserves took the field, things changed.
Carolina was able to fight back and make a game of it. However, the Titans used a late turnover to make a big statement. They scored a touchdown to push them ahead, 34-27, which is where the final score stood after 60 minutes of action.
Of course, this is the preseason and the score barely matters — if it does at all. This time of the year is all about guys stepping up, earning spots and potentially earning more snaps. With that in mind, let’s dive into who stood out for the Titans in the Week 2 preseason victory.
3. Jonnu Smith, TE
Many are going to bring up the first-team offense and what they did. Marcus Mariota looked great, Delanie Walker caught a great touchdown, and receivers Taywan Taylor and Tre McBride both had big days against the Panthers. However, it was rookie tight end Jonnu Smith — the Florida International product — that really shined in this game.
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Considering where he played his college ball and how little many people knew about him, Smith slipped to the Titans in the third round. Throughout minicamps this offseason, he’s drawn big praise from around the organization. Even the normally rookie-shaming Delanie Walker was complimentary of his protege at the position. On Saturday, we got a great glimpse as to why that’s the case.
Smith hauled in five of his seven targets on the day, going for 47 yards. While that line isn’t wowing or absurd, it was how he made it happen that was truly impressive. Defensive backs could handle Smith’s athleticism, but weren’t big enough to bring him down often. Contrarily, linebackers weren’t able to keep up with his speed. The tight end proved he can be a weapon right away in the passing attack. If he can round out as a blocker, the Titans are going to have yet another weapon to work with moving forward.