The Tennessee Titans are gearing up to face the Detroit Lions in Week 8. These teams’ seasons could not be more opposite thus far, as the Lions are 5-1 while the Titans are 1-5.
With the Titans’ record, even a win in this game wouldn’t do much to improve the team’s postseason chances. The Titans have lost two in a row and are coming off a big loss at Buffalo last weekend.
The Titans are a massive underdog for the second week in a row. Current odds have the team as 11-point underdogs in Detroit. Now, let’s identify the five things to know for this Week 8 matchup.
The Titans will be without some notable players
On Wednesday, the Titans traded star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran will now get a chance to play meaningful postseason football while the Titans add more draft capital.
The team wasn’t done making moves there, however. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV was shipped off to Seattle to join the Seahawks in return for Jerome Baker and another mid-round pick.
More dominoes could fall before kickoff so that this roster may look even more different.
It appears likely Mason Rudolph will start at QB again
Per reports, Will Levis is considered a “longshot” to play in Week 8. As a result, Mason Rudolph should be expected to get the start once again.
Rudolph started off on a positive note in Week 7, but the QB simply couldn’t do enough to keep his team in the game. Without Levis, you can likely expect fewer turnovers, but it likely won’t make a difference in the outcome of this game.
A key Detroit playmaker could miss this game
The Detroit Lions could be without one of their best playmakers in this game. Standout wide receiver Jameson Williams was recently suspended two games for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances (PES) policy.
Williams could still appeal the suspension, but reports are that the WR will not do so. Again, Williams’ absence likely doesn’t make a difference in the outcome of this game, but it is something to monitor.
The Titans could have another new right tackle
The Titans have tried out several options at the right tackle spot in 2024. Nicholas Petit-Frere, Jaelyn Duncan, and Leroy Watson IV have all received starts and have been horrible.
This week, the Titans signed Isaiah Prince to the practice squad. Brian Callahan is familiar with Prince because the two spent time together in Cincinnati. Prince has even played in a Super Bowl, so why not try him out?
The Titans will be short on receivers
The Titans currently have just four WRs on the roster after trading Hopkins and placing Treylon Burks on IR. Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will be the starters while Jha’Quan Jackson will be the WR4.
Mason Kinsey and Bryce Oliver are on the practice squad, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either of them get called up for Week 8. Perhaps the team can find a building block at the position now that playing time has opened up for the young guys.