Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta Falcons
Final Score: Titans 23, Falcons 20
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
The Titans and Falcons played a back-and-forth battle, with the Titans ultimately winning in the middle of the fourth quarter on a 23-yard field goal.
The Titans’ 2025 draft class made a strong impression, particularly their pass catchers, who contributed several big plays and showed they can make an immediate impact. On the other side, the Falcons’ receiving corps also put on a show, creating a good “problem” for the team as they figure out which receivers to keep as their WR5 and WR6. Overall, it was a competitive game with some tier two players looking to get that roster spot.
Three Up
- Gunnar Helm – Helm showed up in the second quarter with an impressive touchdown.
- Elic Ayomanor – Ayomanor was impressive in the first half, making a strong case for the WR3 with his speed and route running.
- Falcons 5th/6th WRs – Whether it was Chris Blair, Dylan Drummond, Nick Nash, or David Sills, they all demonstrated that they have a case to make the 53-man.
Three Down
- Kalel Mullings – Mullings failed to impress with the door potentially open for the RB2 spot with Tyjae Spears injured.
- Van Jefferson – Did nothing to help his cause to secure a roster spot with the Titans.
- Chimere Dike – Compared to his fellow rookie receiver, Dike failed to secure any stats outside of 2 targets.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Cam Ward: 2/7, 42 passing yards
Cam Ward had another uneven performance tonight. On the positive side, he made two fantastic throws: one where he escaped pressure and found rookie Elic Ayomanor open across the middle, and another that could have been a 20-plus yard gain to Van Jefferson, though it was dropped.
On the downside, Ward had a few wild throws that missed their targets and showed some accuracy issues. He did display mobility, escaping the pocket and extending plays, but it would have been nice to see a designed run to showcase another dimension of his game. Much like Week 1 of the preseason, Ward flashed his potential on a couple of plays, but inconsistency remains a concern for the first overall pick.
Brandon Allen: 11/14, 119 passing yards, TD, INT | 2 carries, 8 rushing yards
Brandon Allen entered the game after Cam Ward and had a rocky start. One of his first throws resulted in a pick against triple coverage. However, he quickly bounced back and delivered a solid outing overall.
Allen showed good pocket presence, was able to escape pressure when needed, and added a few scrambles to keep plays alive. He threw the Titans’ only passing touchdown to Gunner Helm, though the throw in the end zone wasn’t perfect and relied heavily on Helm’s effort to make it work. Overall, it was a decent performance for Ward’s backup, showing enough composure and mobility to be trusted in relief.
Trevor Siemian: 4/7, 34 passing yards | 1 carry, -1 rushing yard
Trevor Siemian entered the game in the fourth quarter but didn’t generate much excitement, facing mostly third-string defenders. He completed a few decent throws, but the offense struggled to move the ball consistently, managing only one productive drive under his direction.
Running Back
Kalel Mullings: 8 carries, 25 rushing yards
It was a tough outing for rookie running back Kalel Mullings, who managed just 25 yards on eight carries. He saw action throughout this game, but outside of an 8-yard burst up the middle, his runs lacked explosiveness. Too often, he looked slow to the hole and settled for minimal gains.
Even when given extra work into the second half, Mullings could only muster three runs under six yards, none of which inspired much confidence. With an underwhelming performance and little momentum, Mullings may now be in danger of losing the RB3 job battle to Julius Chestnut.
Jordan Mims: 12 carries, 50 rushing yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Jordan Mims served as the RB1 in the second half for the Titans and showed flashes of speed and explosiveness. He contributed several solid runs, including multiple 5+-yard gains that helped sustain a third-quarter drive.
Mims also made an impact in the passing game, catching two dump-off passes and displaying some versatility for the second- and third-team offenses. While he was taken out later for rest and Jermar Jefferson scored a touchdown. Mims’ performance could push the Titans to consider keeping a fourth running back on the roster.
Jermar Jefferson: 4 carries, 18 rushing yards, TD
Jermar Jefferson served as the change-of-pace back to Jordan Mims in the second half. Outside of his 16-yard touchdown, he didn’t provide much explosiveness or flash as a runner, showing more of a complementary role in the offense.
Julius Chestnut: 4 carries, 16 rushing yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 receiving yards
Julius Chestnut saw most of his action in the first half, though his performance was more boring than flashy. He didn’t find much running room, with only one carry going for more than five yards, but he reinforced his identity as a ground-and-pound back who runs with physicality.
Chestnut also contributed as a receiver, making a clean catch in the flat and turning upfield for a few extra yards while dragging a defender with him. While not a breakout performance, his toughness and reliability keep him firmly in the mix as he battles Kalel Mullings for the RB3 role.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Elic Ayomanor: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 47 receiving yards | 1 carry, 2 yards
Rookie Elic Ayomanor was targeted early and often, quickly emerging as a favorite for Cam Ward. He opened the game with a solid catch over the middle, creating separation from his defender and then showing off his speed and yards-after-catch ability to turn it upfield for positive gains. Both of his receptions highlighted his explosiveness once the ball was in his hands.
Ayomanor did miss on one opportunity, failing to track a fade route well despite tight coverage, but that was a minor blemish on an otherwise encouraging showing. Based on his usage and chemistry with Ward, he looks like a strong bet to lock down a top-four role in the Titans’ receiving rotation.
Gunnar Helm: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 48 receiving yards, TD
The second quarter belonged to Gunner Helm, as all of his targets and receptions came during that stretch. Early on, most of his looks were on short underneath routes, where he showed toughness by fighting for extra yards after the catch.
The highlight, though, came later in the quarter on his touchdown grab. Despite a less-than-ideal throw from Brandon Allen and two defenders draped over him, Helm secured the catch with strong concentration and physicality. Helm’s ability to work underneath and make contested plays in tight coverage was a bright spot for the Titans’ offense in this game.
James Proche II: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 35 receiving yards
James Proche entered the game after the first-team offense left the field and made several nice catches from multiple quarterbacks. On one drive, he recorded back-to-back receptions, including a solid grab while falling down, showing good hands and awareness.
His only missed opportunity came on a poorly placed throw from Brandon Allen, which sailed behind him despite defenders nearby. While Proche showed some reliable playmaking, he may still be on the outside looking in when it comes to final roster decisions.
Xavier Restrepo: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 18 receiving yards
Undrafted rookie Xavier Restrepo made the most of his limited opportunities, with both of his targets coming in the third quarter. His first catch was a well-run out route, where he created plenty of separation and showed good body control to keep his feet in bounds along the sideline. On his second reception, he turned a short pass upfield for a 13-yard gain, showing quickness and awareness after the catch.
It wasn’t a high-volume performance, but Restrepo’s route-running polish and ability to separate stood out as qualities that could help his case as he pushes for a roster spot.
Van Jefferson: 2 targets
For a veteran, Van Jefferson did little to strengthen his case for a roster spot with the Titans. He saw early snaps but failed to capitalize on them, dropping what could have been a nice over-the-shoulder completion from Cam Ward. On his second target, Jefferson was the intended receiver on the play that turned into a pick-six, as the defender jumped his route and took it back for a score. Given his lack of impact and the costly mistakes, Jefferson’s roster spot looks very much in jeopardy.
Josh Whyle: 1 target, 1 reception, 11 receiving yards
His lone catch came in the 4th quarter. He had a short pass that he turned up for an 11-yard gain by bouncing off defenders.
Mason Kinsey: 1 target, 1 reception, 10 receiving yards
Saw his lone target in the fourth quarter. It was a quick slant that he had to go up and get, which was an impressive catch.
Bryce Oliver: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 receiving yards
Played in the earlier portion of the second quarter and would catch a short pass underneath, but not much more than that.
David Martin-Robinson: 1 target
Saw his lone target in the middle of the second quarter, which was uncatchable.
Thomas Odukoya: 1 target
His only target came in the fourth quarter, which was a drop with a defender all over him.
Jha’Quan Jackson: 1 target
Jackson’s lone target was a poor throw by Allen, but he caused a pass interference call to help out the team.
Chimere Dike: 2 targets
Fourth-round pick Chimere Dike played in the early portion of the game but failed to record a catch.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Easton Stick: 19/32, 173 passing yards, TD, INT | 2 carries, 14 rushing yards
Easton Stick got the start today and delivered an uneven performance. On the positive side, he looked comfortable in the pocket when given time and showed the ability to escape pressure and make plays on the move. He made several impressive throws, including a 52-yard touchdown to Chris Blair, and could have had even better stats if not for a few drops by his receivers.
On the downside, Stick threw a pick-six and nearly had another interception negated only by a penalty. When facing pressure, his plays frequently broke down, limiting his effectiveness. With his mixed performance, it remains uncertain if the Falcons will carry a third quarterback on the roster.
Emory Jones: 2/5, 16 passing yards | 3 carries, 10 yards
Emory Jones entered the game for the Falcons in the middle of the fourth quarter but failed to make an impression as a passer. His footwork and downfield vision looked limited, and he struggled to create opportunities through the air.
He did flash some rushing ability, gaining 10 yards on one carry and potentially another 16 yards on a play negated by a penalty. Unfortunately, he was injured on a 1-yard run with two minutes remaining, cutting his playing time short.
Running Back
Nathan Carter: 9 carries, 63 rushing yards, TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
The Falcons started rookie running back Nathan Carter in this game, but the box score doesn’t tell the full story. Most of his production came on a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, where he showed good vision cutting inside and the burst to explode past defenders. Outside of that highlight play, Carter managed just 20 yards on his other eight carries, with most runs going for minimal gains.
He did, however, flash some versatility in the passing game. On one of his two receptions, Carter broke a tackle and converted for a first down, showing toughness after the catch. While he still has room to grow as a consistent runner, these flashes of explosiveness and reliability out of the backfield should help his case as he competes for a roster spot in Atlanta’s offense.
Jashaun Corbin: 6 carries, 7 rushing yards
Corbin was the backup to Carter in this game. Corbin failed to make a noise in this game with just 7 yards. He made an effort to push for a roster spot, but the odds were always stacked against him.
Elijah Dotson: 3 carries, 3 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Elijah Dotson saw a few touches throughout the game but didn’t make an impact either. His 6-yard reception was a short dump-off in open space.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Chris Blair: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 76 Yards, 1 TD
Chris Blair had the highlight of the game with a 52-yard touchdown in the third quarter, using his speed to blow past the defender and turn it into a big play. His two other targets earlier in the game were solid as well: one was a contested catch with a defender draped over him, and the other was a short route where he created separation and secured the ball. Blair’s performance made a strong case for him to grab one of the Falcons’ final two roster spots.
Dylan Drummond: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 22 receiving yards | 1 carry, 12 yards
While the stat sheet didn’t show a big game for Dylan Drummond, his effort on the field certainly stood out. He made several nice catches, particularly against zone coverage, where he showed good awareness in finding soft spots and working back to quarterback Easton Stick.
Drummond nearly had a big play in the second quarter, but Stick underthrew him on what could have been a long gain. On that route, Drummond used his speed to beat his defender cleanly downfield. He also impressed with a 12-yard carry, showing some versatility with the ball in his hands. Though the numbers don’t pop, Drummond’s ability to separate, create after the catch, and contribute in multiple ways could give him a real shot at making the 53-man roster.
Nick Nash: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 14 receiving yards | 1 carry, 6 yards
Undrafted rookie Nick Nash worked hard to prove he’s worthy of a roster spot, and the Falcons gave him plenty of opportunities to showcase his game. Most of his touches came on designed screen passes, where the team tried to give him space to create after the catch. He also had two deep targets, but neither was catchable.
Nash did make a mistake in the third quarter, dropping another screen attempt, but he still flashed some twitchiness as an underneath option, showing he can pick up short yardage when needed. While his stat line didn’t stand out, the effort and burst were evident. Even so, it remains uncertain whether Nash has done enough to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.
David Sills V: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 receiving yards
David Sills is making his case for a roster spot with the Falcons, and he made some noise early in the game as part of the first-quarter offense. His first catch came on an underneath route where he picked up yards after the catch, though he could have fought a bit harder to secure the first down.
His second grab, however, was far more impressive: a beautiful sideline catch, where he showed strong concentration and body control to stay in bounds and move the chains. Sills’ early involvement with the starters and ability to win on different types of routes could help his push for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Quincy Shinner Jr.: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards
Shinner Jr. saw his first targets in the 4th quarter of the game. He caught a few slant route passes, showcasing his big frame.
Jesse Matthews: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards
Matthews had two short catches in the fourth quarter of his game. He didn’t show an impact with those catches.
DJ Chark: 3 targets, 1 reception, 11 receiving yards
DJ Chark didn’t see any targets until the fourth quarter, which isn’t encouraging for his chances to make the roster. He had some bad luck on two targets near the sideline, one where he couldn’t get his feet in bounds, and another on a difficult, contested throw. His only completed catch came in the final two minutes of the game.
Feleipe Franks: 1 target, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
Saw his lone target on the final drive of the 1st half. The former QB-turned-TE would make a solid catch off a curl route.
Joshua Simon: 1 target
Simons’ only target came in the early second quarter as Stick was on the run and the pass was not catchable.