Cam Ward opened Week 2 of the NFL preseason with mixed efficiency, finishing 2-for-7 for 42 yards but showing moments of poise under pressure, including a live-fire throw on the run to Elic Ayomanor and a deep strike to Van Jefferson that just missed. The Titans squeaked out a 23-20 win as they leaned on younger players late, with the off-script moments suggesting upside for Ward when he’s flushed from the pocket and forced to improvise.

Gunnar Helm exploded as a Week 2 standout, snagging four targets for 48 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by contested catches and a strong elite-grade performance that pleased Tennessee’s coaching staff. The Falcons kept starters sheltered, but James Pearce Jr. flashed in the pass rush with three pressures, while Jalon Walker sat out, leaving Pearce to carry the edge-rushing narrative. Joey Slye’s fourth-quarter boot provided the closing margin, sealing the Titans’ win and underscoring how depth pieces can swing late in the preseason.

In a week where data and snap counts were dissected by PFF, the Titans found a few surprise contributors—Helm’s emergence as a reliable target behind the top backups and Ward’s growing toolkit, even amid imperfect accuracy. PFF’s grading and Premium Stats will shape early fantasy interpretations, but the underlying thread is clear: Tennessee is cultivating a deeper bench with real upside as the regular season approaches.

Gunnar Helm injected life into Titans TE depth in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason, hauling in four of four targets for 48 yards and a touchdown. Helm’s versatility was evident: he blocked, ran routes, and moved like a traditional inline tight end and a classic move tight end, presenting a clear mismatch in the Falcons’ front. The performance underscored Helm’s push to supplant Chig Okonkwo as Tennessee’s starter, a goal Helm has vocalized and pursued since being a Titans fourth-round pick alongside Okonkwo.

Okonkwo, already in his fourth season, has been a steady contributor, but last season’s two fumbles are a reminder that ball security is still a part of the battle for the TE2 role in 2025. Helm’s 4-for-4 line, plus his all-around production, signals a potential shift in the Titans’ tight end picture if he continues to seize the moment. The win closed a long 10-day trip and reinforced that Tennessee’s offense could maximize mismatches at tight end with Helm offering a legitimate alternative to Okonkwo.

The game also came with hiccups—an interception by Brandon Allen and a late fumble by T.J. Sheffield—yet the Titans still walked away on top. Helm’s emergence adds flavor to Tennessee’s tight end competition and broadens the fantasy impulse around the unit. If Helm keeps delivering at this level, Tennessee may rotate through multiple 12-person sets with dynamic TE looks, keeping defenses honest and opening up the run and play-action schemes as 2025 approaches.

Natrone Brooks supplied the eye-catching moment for Atlanta, blanking Titans drives with a second‑quarter interception and keeping his roster case alive in a rocky preseason debut environment. The Falcons’ offense stalled for stretches, and a Younghoe Koo field goal trimmed Tennessee’s lead, but the takeaway is Brooks’ continued ascent as a defensive answer in the slot or outside, a sign the Falcons are sorting out their corner depth ahead of final cuts.

The Titans’ offense also had limited explosive plays, and Brandon Allen’s night offered a few chances but didn’t flip the script. Atlanta’s defense carried the narrative, with the interception serving as a tangible fantasy‑angle: a potential uptick in IDP opportunities if Brooks locks a spot and the Falcons lean into a tighter defensive unit. Fantasy managers should monitor how this translates into the Week 1 picture as rosters shape up and depth charts firm up in September.

Cam Ward steered two Titans drives across 14 plays, sparking Tennessee’s lone scoring moment in a 29-7 preseason loss to Tampa Bay. Behind Ward, Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle provide veteran depth, but the night underscored fragility in the quarterback room if Ward were to miss time. Allen’s late-drive sequence culminated in a fourth-and-2 turnover on downs when he threw out of bounds, a play Callahan privately critiqued after noting headset issues and a possible misfit call for the moment. Context, not isolated plays, shapes perception here.

The clash illuminated the Titans’ depth constraints and how coaching decisions bleed into fantasy value. Ward’s perch as the presumptive starter is evident, yet the backing duo’s miscues and communication hiccups offer a cautionary tale for rostering Titans pass-catchers or betting on immediate backup upside. In short, talent clarity and in-game communication will drive early-season fantasy projections in Nashville.

Tyjae Spears exits early with an ankle injury in a 29-7 preseason loss to Tampa Bay, likely sidelining him for much of the rest of August. Nashville hints that Spears could miss a couple of weeks, leaving Week 1 timeline uncertain as the Titans search for a reliable backfield path. Brandon Allen connected with Spears on a third-and-long play before the injury, underscoring Spears’ role as a versatile piece in Brian Callahan’s offense when healthy.

The Titans’ depth chart behind Spears includes Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings, Jermar Jefferson, and Jordan Mims. Mullings led the group against the Bucs with seven carries for 33 yards and provided special-teams value alongside Chestnut. Tennessee faces two joint practices with Atlanta this week before their next preseason game, then opens the regular season at Denver, intensifying the fantasy ripple effects as Spears’ timetable remains murky.

Historically, Spears has battled ankle sprains, a hamstring issue, and concussions, complicating any quick return timeline. The absence could thrust Tony Pollard into a larger workload early, with Mullings and Chestnut absorbing more touches as the backup committee. For fantasy managers, the injury elevates the need to monitor practice reports, potential Week 1 readiness, and how the Titans restructure their early-down and passing-game usage in Spears’ absence.