Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Mike Moraitis

Titans top Vikings in preseason Week 2: Everything we know

Titans Vikings JULIUS CHESTNUT Malik Willis Kearis Jackson Tennessee Titans Caleb Murphy Chig Okonkwo Kyle Philips Tyjae Spears

The Tennessee Titans notched their first win of the preseason slate on Saturday night when they topped the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, 24-16.

While things didn’t go so well for the Titans’ passing attack, the ground game dominated en route to an eye-popping 281 yards (7.0 yards per carry) and two scores.

Buy Titans Tickets

Both running backs Julius Chestnut and Tyjae Spears broke off big runs and found pay dirt, and quarterback Malik Willis showed his elite athleticism all game long.

After a lackluster showing in preseason Week 1, the Titans’ backup defense was sharp, holding the Vikings to just one touchdown on the evening and under 300 yards of total offense.

But let’s dive a bit deeper on both sides of the ball and special teams with some instant analysis of each. We’ll also go over the stars of the game, the highlights and whatever injuries were recorded from Tennessee’s first exhibition victory of 2023 on Saturday night.

Final score: Titans 24, Vikings 16

Team	1	2	3	4	F
TEN	7	0	10	7	24
MIN	0	9	0	7	16

Who didn't play?

The #Titans who did not play against the #Vikings pic.twitter.com/oXg5fBSPTy

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 20, 2023

Stars of the Game

RB Tyjae Spears: 7 CAR, 57 YDS, TD; 1 REC, 3 YDS

RB Julius Chestnut: 13 CAR, 98 YDS, TD; 1 REC, 1 YDS, TD

OLB Caleb Murphy: 4 tackles, 2 sacks

Instant analysis: Offense

-The Titans projected starting offensive line (from left to right: Dillard, Skoronski, Brewer, Brunskill, Hubbard) played the first quarter and was adequate but not great in pass protection and run-blocking.

-The only other starter to play was Chig Okonkwo. Chig had one catch for 19 yards but also had two drops.

-Malik Willis’ impressive athleticism was on full display. Not only did he tally 11 carries for 91 yards, he also flashed awesome escapability, using both his quickness and toughness to avoid multiple sacks. Despite the big rushing totals, he still did his best to hang in the pocket and make plays through the air instead of defaulting to his legs. For the most part, he did a good job picking his spots to run after not finding anything down the field.

-Willis’ pass-catchers didn’t do him any favors with multiple drops (Chig had two, Julius Chestnut had one, although Chestnut’s wasn’t a great throw), but he definitely wasn’t as sharp as last week. Willis threw an ugly pick on what looked to be a predetermined throw, putting a pass right in the arms of a Vikings linebacker. He had an open Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on another throw but hit him in the shoelaces for an incomplete pass. He also had the ball knocked loose on one play, recovered and should’ve thrown it away, but Willis instead tried to make something happen when there was nothing to be had, leading to a big loss. It wasn’t all bad but Willis, who finished 10-of-17 for 85 yards with one passing score and one pick, definitely failed to take advantage of a full-game opportunity and put more distance between himself and Will Levis for the backup job. That said, I still think he was good enough to be the QB2 going into preseason Week 3 but Levis still has a chance to win the job.

-Levis, of course, didn’t suit up due to injury but he was working out on the field before the game, so he appears to be OK.

-Running back Tyjae Spears ripped off a sick hurdle en route to a 33-yard touchdown run. This young man continues to look special and defenses are going to have problems trying to defend both he and Derrick Henry week to week.

-Julius Chestnut cemented himself as the RB3 for this team after stealing the show on Saturday night. Chestnut exploded for a 55-yard run and had a pair of scores, one through the air. He finished with 98 yards on the ground and 7.5 yards per carry. Neither Hassan Haskins nor Jonathan Ward played, but I don’t think it would’ve mattered if they did with how well Chestnut played.

-With the team’s struggles through the air overall, it was a quiet night for Titans wide receivers. Mason Kinsey (37 yards), who is the team’s leading receiver through two preseason games, led the way after finishing second in receiving yards last week. Racey McMath had a 16-yard grab. Other than that, Reggie Roberson, Tre’Shaun Harrison and Kearis Jackson were held catchless. Roberson did have a good block on Chestnut’s run and Jackson had three returns, including a long of 33 on a kickoff. However, he exited early due to injury. Tre’Shaun Harrison was targeted in the end zone but was unable to come up with the ball in tight coverage.

-The backup offensive line certain wasn’t perfect but things were much, much better than in preseason Week 1, both in pass protection and run-blocking. Willis was sacked only once while the backups were in there.

-Tight end Josh Whyle didn’t have any miscues but he also only had just one catch for four yards.

Instant analysis: Defense

-Teair Tart was the only locked-in starter who played on defense. He was an absolute menace in the first half, with multiple pressures, one QB hit, a tackle for loss and one pass defensed.

-Chance Campbell and Jack Gibbens started at inside linebacker, Monty Rice didn’t play. Gibbens had a pass break-up.

-It was a much better showing for the Titans’ backup unit than in preseason Week 1, especially considering the offense didn’t do much to give the unit a breather via sustaining drives throughout the game. The Vikings didn’t score a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, had under 300 yards of total offense and ran for just 3.6 yards per carry.

-Eric Garror continued to be everywhere, as was the case last week. He posted four tackles and a pass defensed, and he even contributed in the return game.

-Caleb Murphy had a pair of sacks, giving him three in exhibition play so far. He should be the No. 4 EDGE right now behind Harold Landry, Arden Key and Rashad Weaver, who also had a sack.

-Safety Tyreque Jones, linebacker Otis Reese and cornerback Steven Jones Jr. all had a pass defensed.

Instant analysis: Special teams

Punt returners: WR Kyle Philips (1-2), WR Kearis Jackson (1-8), CB Eric Garror (2-22)

Kick returners: WR Kearis Jackson (2-48, long 33)

Kickers

Trey Wolff (1-1 FG, 2-2 XP): Wolff’s first field goal make of the preseason was clean from 22 yards out. He also hit both of his extra points, but one of them was doinked through.

Caleb Shudak (0-0 FG, 1-1 XP): Shudak did not get a field goal attempt in preseason Week 2. As a result, this competition really isn’t any further along than it was coming into this game.

Other notes

The Titans muffed a punt in this one. Vikings punter Ryan Wright’s punt hit the ground but cornerback Tre Avery wasn’t able to get out of the way and it hit off his leg and was recovered by Minnesota.

Injuries

WR Kyle Philips (knee): Philips was injured on the punt following the third series of the game. He did not return after being listed as questionable.

WR Kearis Jackson (knee): Jackson was ruled questionable to return but did not.

Titans highlights

HE GONE 🏃‍♂️💨@tyjae22 with a 33-yard touchdown run

📺: Watch #TENvsCHI on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/APo0AL1HI5

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 20, 2023

From DII to the NFL, Caleb Murphy with his second sack of the preseason 💪

📺: Watch #TENvsMIN on @WKRN / NFL+ pic.twitter.com/JAmQZx8bNv

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 20, 2023