Tennessee Titans Starters Struggle in 19-16 Preseason Win Over Seattle

The Tennessee Titans secured a 19-16 home preseason victory against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, despite an alarming performance from Tennessee's primary starting units against Seattle's reserves.

Tennessee starters played three possessions to open the game but allowed Seattle backups to build an early 16-3 first-quarter lead while the Seahawks rested top players. The starting defense permitted backup quarterback Drew Lock to complete 12 of 14 passes and direct touchdown drives of 74 and 79 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown reception by Elijah Arroyo and a 69-yard touchdown run by Jacardia Wright.

Quarterback Cam Ward completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards for the first-string offense, with 33 yards coming on a single short pass and run by Tony Pollard. The offense failed to reach the end zone, taking consecutive sacks before Ward exited and relying on field goals from Joey Slye, including a 55-yard attempt.

Penalties heavily impacted both sides, with the teams combining for 25 penalties totaling 229 yards. An illegal contact call on Cor'Dale Flott negated a Kevin Winston Jr. interception, while a holding penalty on Jackson Slater wiped out a third-down touchdown pass from Mitch Trubisky to Xavier Restrepo.

Seattle safety Bud Clark was carted off the field with a serious leg injury on Tennessee's opening offensive play. Defensive highlights for Tennessee included an interception by rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. off Seattle quarterback Jalen Milroe during the third quarter and a muffed punt recovery by special teams coverage units.