TEAM NOTES
The Titans' 23-20 victory at Atlanta gave the team a 1-1 preseason record in 2025 going into the finale against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on Friday, Aug. 22.
The win improved Brian Callahan's career preseason record to 4-1.
The victory improved the Titans' all-time preseason record against the Falcons to 7-5.
The team captains for the game were wide receiver Mason Kinsey, tight end Chig Okonkwo, punter Johnny Hekker, offensive lineman Corey Levin and outside linebacker Arden Key.
Seventeen of the 91 players on the roster did not play due to injury or coach's decision.
The Titans totaled more first downs (19 to 13), total yards (313 to 288), rushing yards (118 to 114), passing yards (195 to 174) and time of possession (30:29 to 29:31) than the Falcons.
The starters on offense were quarterback Cameron Ward; running back Julius Chestnut; wide receivers Van Jefferson, Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor; tight end Chig Okonkwo; left tackle Dan Moore Jr.; left guard Peter Skoronski; center Corey Levin; right guard Blake Hance; and right tackle JC Latham. Three rookies started on offense: Ward, Dike and Ayomanor.
Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor provided the Titans their first pair of rookie wide receivers to start a preseason game since Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips against Arizona on Aug. 27, 2022.
For the second consecutive week, eight of the Titans' nine draft picks played in the game, with the lone exception being safety Kevin Winston Jr.
The starters on defense were cornerbacks Darrell Baker Jr., Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Roger McCreary; safeties Amani Hooker and Xavier Woods; defensive linemen Carlos Watkins and James Lynch; linebackers Cody Barton and Cedric Gray; and outside linebackers Arden Key and Dre'Mont Jones.
The Titans offense notched two touchdown drives of at least 80 yards, including an eight-play, 80-yard series in the second quarter and a 13-play, 87-yard march in the third quarter.
In the first half, the Titans defense allowed Atlanta's offense only five first downs and 104 total yards.
Defensive back Kendell Brooks' 53-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter marked the Titans' first defensive touchdown in a preseason game since cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun reached the end zone on a 42-yard fumble return against Tampa Bay on Aug. 21, 2021. Brooks recorded Tennessee's first interception return touchdown since cornerback Perrish Cox's 24-yard touchdown return against the St. Louis Rams on Aug. 23, 2015.
QB BRANDON ALLEN
Led the team in passing with 119 yards and a touchdown, completing 11 of his 14 attempts (78.6 percent) with a 96.1 passer rating.
Engineered a pair of touchdown drives of 80 and 87 yards, respectively.
Helped convert a third-and-six with a 12-yard strike to Elic Ayomanor in the second quarter.
Threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gunnar Helm to cap a two-minute drive late in the second quarter. During the series, he completed all six of his attempts for 68 total yards.
Added eight yards on two rushing attempts.
WR ELIC AYOMANOR
Logged his first start of the preseason.
Totaled 47 yards on a pair of receptions.
Registered 35 yards on a pass from Cameron Ward in the first quarter. It was the first reception of Ayomanor's rookie preseason.
Converted a third-and-six with a 12-yard reception in the second quarter.
LB CODY BARTON
Started and recorded two tackles in his second preseason game with the Titans.
S JOSHUAH BLEDSOE
Entered the game on defense in the second half.
Recorded two tackles and a pass defensed, helping Julius Wood to break up a pass on a third down in the fourth quarter.
Entered the game in the first quarter and nabbed an interception for a touchdown, picking off Easton Stick and returning it for the team's first points of the game.
Brooks became the first Titans player to score a touchdown on an interception return during a preseason game since cornerback Perrish Cox's 24-yard touchdown return against the St. Louis Rams on Aug. 23, 2015.
At the time of Brooks' touchdown, it was the longest interception return for a touchdown in the NFL during the 2025 preseason.
Added a tackle.
S MIKE BROWN
Entered the contest in the first quarter and notched two tackles.
Added a stop of special teams.
LB AMARI BURNEY
Entered the game on defense in the second half. Ranked third on the team with five tackles.
RB JULIUS CHESTNUT
Started and totaled four carries for 16 yards.
Added a seven-yard reception to convert a third-and-two.
WR CHIMERE DIKE
Logged his first start of the preseason.
Totaled 43 yards on a pair of kickoff returns.
DE JOE GAZIANO
Totaled a sack, a tackle for loss and two total tackles.
Sacked Emory Jones for a loss of eight yards with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter, helping to seal the victory.
LB CEDRIC GRAY
Started at linebacker for the first time this preseason.
Recorded a team-high seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and 0.5 sacks.
Combined with Carlos Watkins to bring down quarterback Easton Stick in the first quarter.
Ranks first on the Titans defense with 14 tackles through two preseason games.
CB MARCUS HARRIS
Entered the game in the second quarter and finished with four tackles and a team-high two passes defensed.
Broke up a deep pass intended for Chris Blair in the second quarter.
His two passes defensed tied for the third most by a rookie during the 2025 NFL preseason.
P JOHNNY HEKKER
Served as a team captain.
Averaged 47.7 gross yards and 43.0 net yards on six punts with one punt placed inside the 20.
TE GUNNAR HELM
Led the offense with four receptions and 48 receiving yards, including a touchdown catch.
Recorded his first preseason touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Brandon Allen late in the second quarter. Helm totaled three catches for 38 yards on the drive.
S AMANI HOOKER
Started at safety for the second consecutive preseason contest.
RB JERMAR JEFFERSON
Reached the end zone on a 16-yard run in the third quarter.
Finished with 18 yards on four rushing attempts.
OLB ARDEN KEY
Served as a captain and started at outside linebacker.
Recorded two tackles, including a stop for loss in the first quarter to force a Falcons punt.
WR MASON KINSEY
Served as a team captain.
Converted a third-and-six with a 10-yard catch during the game-winning scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
OL COREY LEVIN
Served as a team captain and started at center.
DL JAMES LYNCH
Started at his second consecutive game of the preseason.
Notched two tackles, including a stop for loss. Brought down Elijah Dotson for a loss of one in the first quarter.
RB JORDAN MIMS
Led the Titans offense with 50 rushing yards on a team-high 12 carries and added two receptions for 12 yards.
RB KALEL MULLINGS
Finished second on the team with 25 rushing yards on eight attempts.
Converted a fourth-and-one with a two-yard carry in the second quarter.
TE CHIG OKONKWO
Served as a team captain and started at tight end.
OLB OLUWAFEMI OLADEJO
Started and logged two tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Combined with Gabe Jeudy-Lally to stop Jashaun Corbin for a loss of one in the first quarter.
CB AMANI ORUWARIYE
Finished second on the team with five tackles and added a pass defensed.
WR JAMES PROCHE II
Finished second on the team with three receptions and totaled 35 receiving yards.
Recorded receptions 11 yards and 12 yards on consecutive snaps during a second-quarter touchdown drive.
Added an 11-yard punt return.
WR XAVIER RESTREPO
Caught two passes for 18 total yards during a touchdown drive in the third quarter.
QB TREVOR SIEMIAN
Completed four passes for 34 yards on seven attempts in his first appearance of the preseason.
K JOEY SLYE
Connected on his only field goal attempt–the game-winner from 23 yards in the fourth quarter–and made two of his three extra point attempts.
QB CAMERON WARD
Started and played three series in his second preseason game.
Completed two of his seven pass attempts for 42 yards.
Tossed a 35-yard pass to Elic Ayomanor in the first quarter.
DL CARLOS WATKINS
Started at defensive line, marking his first start of the preseason.
Notched three tackles and a half sack, combining with Cedric Gray to bring down quarterback Easton Stick in the first quarter.
LB JAMES WILLIAMS SR.
Entered the game in the first quarter. Finished with two tackles, including a stop for loss.
Teamed with James Lynch to bring down Elijah Dotson for a loss of one yard in the second quarter.
Ranks second on team with nine tackles through two preseason games. His two tackles for loss rank first on the team.
S XAVIER WOODS
Started and logged a tackle.