The New Pantheon.

Post by **Soapy** » 12 Dec 2025, 18:49

Tennessee drops interim from Steve Jackson as he's announced as Titans head coach
In a press conference that can be best described as clunky, the Tennessee Titans announced that Titans head coach Steve Jackson would be the team's permanent head coach going forward, dropping the interim tag. The clunky part about it? Jackson wasn't present as the announcement came during general manager Malcolm Francois Jr's press conference to discuss the Titans recent draft and shortly into fielding questions, Francois corrected a press member that called Jackson the team's interim head coach.

"Jackson is our coach going forward," Francois said, "We finalized our search and we felt that he was the best guy to move forward with and we have a lot of confidence with him as our guy."

Francois Jr. said that the decision was a collaborative one that was made prior to the draft and that Jackson was involved in all roster related decisions in a capacity. He affirmed that he would continue to have control over the 53-man roster but reiterated that it was a collective process.

"I think ultimately you need someone to make the decision," Francois added, "We listen, I listen and it's definitely something that I think you need to have in terms of open communication and an open flow of ideas but yeah, ultimately, we have to make a choice and that falls on me, good or bad."

Titans finalize roster with seven UDFA signings
The Titans are ready for the offseason as they reached their 75-man roster limit with seven undrafted free agent signings that have been added to the off-season roster. Under the new NFL rules, these players will be able to participate in OTAs, mini camp and training camp prior to the regular season.

The list includes James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III, UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas, Oklahoma receiver Jayden Gibson, Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore, Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts, Kansas State linebacker Gabe Powers and Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley.

Defensive tackle Bashaud Ware was signed as an undrafted free agent last season and made the final roster and center Trey Hill, tight end Chris Manhertz and linebacker Shaq Quarterman also made the roster as training camp signings.

Cam Ward's fifth-year option will be $57.9 million
If, and more than likely, when the Titans decide to pick up Cam Ward's fifth-year option, the value of the deal would be $57.9 million.

NFL fifth-year options for first-round picks are calculated using four tiers based on Pro Bowl selections and playing time, determining a fully guaranteed salary for the fifth season, with higher tiers reflecting greater success (multiple Pro Bowls, significant snaps) and using averages of current player salaries for valuation. Teams must decide by May after the player's third year, with options ranging from a basic average of lower-paid players (3rd-25th highest) to the franchise tag amount for elite multiple Pro Bowlers.

By comparison, Josh Conerly, who the Titans traded for this past offseason, would come in at $18.6 million, a bit of a bargain if he's able to play at a franchise left tackle this season. The Titans have $190 million in cap space heading into next season but have several players up for extension in Jeffery Simmons, Zaire Franklin J.C. Latham, T'Vondre Sweat, Marcus Jones and Peter Skoronski.

Post by **Soapy** » 15 Dec 2025, 09:57

Rueben Bain dropped the pounds and added clarity as he looks to make a jump in his second year
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. is no stranger to the word tweener. He's been labelled one his entire career, dating back to his days at Miami Central where despite putting up gaudy numbers, including a multi-sack performance against powerhouse IMG Academy, scouts and analysts have always had questions about what he is.

An undersized defensive tackle or a short-armed, not twitched-up enough EDGE player? Bain doesn't expect those questions to stop anytime soon nor does he view his versatility as a bad thing but this offseason, he's certainly going all into being an EDGE player.

The former first round picked up yoga and Pilates this past off-season, out of suggestion from former college teammate Akheem Mesidor. Bain, who said he was playing around 285 pounds in the playoffs, says he's back closer to his preferred playing weight of 270 pounds.

"I think I can play [inside and outside] at [270]," Bain said. "I feel more powerful but also lighter, more explosive. As you get older, you don't want to always have to carry around that weight so anything you can do to keep your legs fresh, feeling good, I'm looking forward to it."

As the season progressed, the Titans featured Bain more and more on the inside, partly out of necessity as they dealt with injuries to top defensive tackles Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat. Even when they returned, Bain continued to be featured on the inside on passing downs. Titans head coach Steve Jackson says that's always a possibility, and an option for the defense, but that Bain is viewed internally as an edge player first.

"He can do it and we're very comfortable with him doing it," Jackson said of Bain, "But ultimately, we think of him first and foremost as a defensive end and anything after that is extra so that's where his focus was this offseason and he came into camp looking like that."

Rasheem Biles, Joshua Williams with the safety group
Speaking of positional versatility, two new faces are in new places as free agent cornerback signing Joshua Williams and rookie linebacker Rasheem Biles have both been rotating with the safeties during the early portion of training camp.

Jackson said that at this point of camp, no permanent decisions are being made and its more about cross training although a move for both players would make sense.

Williams is the third outside corner behind Jermaine Matthew Jr. and Roger McCreary, both entrenched as starters, while Biles joins a linebacker room that features Zaire Franklin, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and second-year standout Whit Weeks. Behind them is veteran linebacker Brandon Smith, who was brought in as a free agent to back up Franklin, and James Williams Sr. and Taurean York are battling for that backup weakside linebacker role.

A first glimpse at Justin Jefferson in a uniform
Titans fans who were in attendance for the first week of camp got a chance to see Justin Jefferson in his No. 18 Titans jersey, one of the best selling jerseys in the NFL since Jefferson was traded to Tennessee this off-season.

Jefferson said he's been working out with quarterback Cam Ward and others leading up to camp as Ward invited several teammates to his home in Texas during the spring and earlier this summer. The chemistry is apparent as the two connected early and often in practice, both against air and during the competitive 7on7 portion of practice.

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 15 Dec 2025, 14:39

Bain needs to get those sack numbers up, fuck pilates

Post by **djp73** » 16 Dec 2025, 06:48

intrigued by the roster and coaching choice moving forward

Post by **Soapy** » 17 Dec 2025, 07:16

redsox907 wrote: ↑
15 Dec 2025, 14:39
Bain needs to get those sack numbers up, fuck pilates

trying to add some color to the story my boy but don't you worry, 10+ sack season loading

djp73 wrote: ↑
16 Dec 2025, 06:48
intrigued by the roster and coaching choice moving forward

in S-Jax we trust

Post by **djp73** » 17 Dec 2025, 07:18

bum phillips is not walking through that door

Post by **Soapy** » 17 Dec 2025, 07:39

It's now or never for Xavier Restrepo whose chemistry with Cam Ward won't be enough for a roster spot
You don't need to be out at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park for very long to pick up on the chemistry between Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward and roster hopeful Xavier Restrepo. In between periods, you'll often find the two former college teammates together, either talking or throwing the ball back and forth. Ward and Restrepo often stay after practice with Restrepo running routes against the air, usually the only time that they are both on the field at the same time.

The Miami Hurricanes all-time leading receiver has all of ten catches in his first two NFL seasons, all of them in the final games of the 2025 season when he was briefly promoted to the practice squad as a rookie but a quiet pre-season last year led to Restrepo not making the roster and spending all of last season on the practice squad.

It's a fallback that Restrepo no longer has as he is no longer eligible for the practice squad. If he doesn't make it to the final 53-man roster, he'll be a free agent. It's now or never for Restrepo and so far in camp, he's playing like it.

The addition of Justin Jefferson has been a sparkplug for the receivers and with it, a shake up of the room as they look to build around the $30 million receiver. Brian Daboll is also replacing Brian Callahan as play caller, installing a new offense that's new for everyone. Restrepo has picked up the playbook quickly and has a fan in Daboll already.

"Smart receiver, tough receiver," Daboll said of Restrepo, "He can do a lot of things, whether in the quick game or going across the middle or digging out a second level defender in the run game. You look at him and you'll think he's a pure slot but with his route running and physicality, you can line him up a few different places and find success. He's just someone you can depend on."

Restrepo was on the bubble for that sixth receiver spot, losing it to Deion Burks. Burks, a special teams ace, hasn't played much receiver but is a near lock to make the roster as the Titans' return, a role he split with Kavontae Turpin last year whose no longer on the roster. Assuming that Jefferson, Ja'Kobi Lane, Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor are locks as well, that leaves only one roster spot between Restrepo, Jacolby George and UDFA Jayden Gibson.

Entering camp, the common belief was that the backup slot would be Burks but so far, it's been Restrepo and he's also played some outside receiver as well which is where George and Gibson would have had the edge. They both bring something different that Restrepo doesn't offer with Gibson being six-foot-five and George being a more fluid, natural outside receiver.

It's too early to claim that Restrepo has the inside lane on the race for the job as its only been a few practices and just two of them with pads but with the preseason opener nearing, jobs are going to be won and ultimately, others lost. It's the beauty of training camp, it's the beauty of the NFL.

And it's harsh reality for someone like Restrepo who will either make an NFL roster for the first time or the dying embers of his NFL career that never took off.

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 17 Dec 2025, 10:10

missed the chance to say Restrepo is a "coach's son, real gym rat" best way to label all white receivers.

Pressure is going to be on JJ from the start. Better be scoring a touchdown every game

Post by **Caesar** » 17 Dec 2025, 10:43

Restrepo just wasting a roster spot with Jefferson on the squad. Get him outta there.

$60 mill for Ward is crazy work

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 17 Dec 2025, 13:56

need a generational run from JJ.

inb4 Cam's INTs double from forcing the ball to him

Login • Register