Now that the Titans have officially been eliminated from any playoff consideration, they need to treat the last three games of the season in much the same way they would play preseason games in August.
That’s not to say that they should play the starters for two series and then sub everyone out. But everything should up for evaluation in these last three games.
That also means being smart when it comes to the health of rookie quarterback Will Levis. Levis suffered an injury to his already gimpy left ankle at the end of Sunday’s overtime loss to Houston. If there is even a hint that he is questionable to practice and play, then the smart move would be to let him rest.
Despite a poor offensive line trying in vain to protect him, an inconsistent run game and only one true target in the passing game in DeAndre Hopkins, Levis has shown he has the tools and moxie the Titans should be building around for 2024. Unless he is completely healthy, there is no real need to put him in harm’s way at less than full capacity.
Elsewhere, nearly everything else should be on the table to determine who fits and who doesn’t over these final three games. That means evaluating who is still working hard and doing the right things despite playing for nothing more than pride in the final three weeks.
It should mean finding out what veterans under contract still have a role for 2024, what young players need game experience and further evaluation can do with more reps and what impending free agents might still be worthy of being re-signed.
No matter which situation the players on the roster find themselves, these last three games are going to be a big final exam to see who has a future with the team as it undertakes a massive rebuild with cap money to spend.
“I don’t expect anybody to tuck their tail or pack it up,” says linebacker Azeez Al Shaair, one of the players on an expiring contract who will be looking to prove to the Titans or some other team he deserves a roster spot in 2024.
“End of the day, we’ve got three games left, and this 2023 group that we have, it’s going to be the last time that we get to play together for these last three games. We’ve got to take full advantage of it, take it one day at a time, show back up to work, try to finish the season strong.”
Running back Derrick Henry, whose own future is at a crossroads, says the approach has to remain the same for all the players, despite no payoff at the end.
“I mean, it’s football. I mean, it’s fun. Something that we’ve been playing since we were kids,” Henry says. “If you don’t get ready for the next game or you are not excited to play, then I don’t know what to tell you. That’s just what it is.
“You can’t do nothing about it. We’re out of the playoffs, but we still got three games left. Still got to go out there and play and put your best foot forward. I ain’t laying down, I’m sure nobody else is trying to lay down. But at the end of the day, that is just what it is right now.”
In all, 16 Titans players will become unrestricted free agents in March. In addition to Henry and Al Shaair, others who can head to unrestricted free agency are Ryan Tannehill, Denico Autry, Aaron Brewer, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chris Moore, Corey Levin, Kristian Fulton (now on IR), Morgan Cox, Terrell Edmunds, Chris Hubbard (on IR), Trevis Gipson, Trevon Wesco and K’Von Wallace, Spotrac.com reports.
Honestly, other than Henry, whose value also includes being a franchise icon, and Autry, who is 33 years old, many of the others can likely be replaced with younger, cheaper options or upgrades in free agency or the draft.
So while the Titans as a team are finished playoff-wise for 2023, there are still many players with careers to protect during the final three weeks.
Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com