Chance Campbell is hoping that he can prove to everyone why the Tennessee Titans valued him so highly as a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. However, he will look to stay healthy, something he has yet to do through his first two years in the league.
After being drafted, Campbell suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve (IR) two days before the start of the regular season. His rookie campaign was over.
Last year, the Ole Miss product played in four games, but missed the final 10 games of the year with another injury. When he was on the field, Campbell was primarily limited to a special teams role.
Now, he is looking to insert himself into the starting inside linebacker position. His play in the Titans’ first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night was certainly a good start.
“He made plays kind of all night long,” Callahan said of Campbell, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “He made a bunch of tackles. He made some hits on the quarterback. I think he sacked the quarterback once. Just to see him come alive a little bit was great because we’re looking for guys to keep coming in that room for depth purposes. There’s opportunities there and he did a nice job taking advantage of it.”
Campbell used all of his team-high 45 snap counts on defense to repeatedly make plays all over the field. He finished with a team-best nine tackles, including one tackle for a loss on a sack, with the 49ers facing a third-and-six late in the first half.
Great rush by Caleb Murphy, really nice timing on the late blitz by Chance Campbell – who's having quite a first half – and good pocket push by Keondre Coburn too (replay below)
*Mike Keith voice* SAAAAAAACK #TENvsSF pic.twitter.com/9DnD1A0RIH
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) August 11, 2024
With the 49ers in Titans’ territory and one shot at the endzone on the game’s final play, Campbell intercepted the pass to preserve the win for his team.
As a result, he was named our “Player of the Game” for Tennessee’s first preseason contest.
The linebacker, whose scouting report coming out of Ole Miss was described as an explosive athlete who can get upfield quickly and through tight spaces, looked a lot like the player who led the Rebels with 110 tackles, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries as a senior.
Without looking too far ahead, it feels like Campbell is well-suited for defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme as a downhill, aggressive linebacker who can use his speed and athleticism to go after the ball.
“It was just fun playing for Dennard’s defense,” Campbell said. “And for (linebacker coach) Frank (Bush) and the guys that we have in the room. It was just like, cool to go out, and be part of a new group. So just kind of fed off that, I think.”
Entering Saturday’s game, the 24-year-old was listed in a second-string role on the Titans’ first unofficial depth chart of the season.
Health will continue to be the operative word surrounding Campbell, but his stellar play on Saturday could ultimately see him take over one of the two inside linebacker jobs this season.
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