Video summary
The Tennessee Titans concluded their 2026 training camp with a final practice session against the Chicago Bears, marking the end of preseason preparations before the regular season begins. Head Coach Salah emphasized that while the first half of the game might not go as planned, the team's ability to recover and execute in the second half was the true measure of their preparation. The defense performed strongly throughout the day, particularly in pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run, leading to a victory in the practice session despite the eventual loss in the actual preseason game. This final event served as both a tune-up for some players and a critical proving ground for others fighting to secure spots on the 53-man roster ahead of Week One against the New York Jets.
The atmosphere was charged with high stakes as players sought to establish their value for the upcoming regular season, with many aiming to prove they are essential pieces of the team's new identity under the new coaching staff. Quarterback Cam Ward delivered a strong performance, completing several touchdown passes and making key throws under pressure, while rookie Anthony Hill Jr. earned significant praise for his defensive production, recording half of the team's tackles so far in the preseason. The game itself saw the Bears take an early lead, eventually winning 24-9, which marked the Titans' first preseason loss of the year. Despite the score, the focus remained on individual performances and the intangible qualities like resilience and effort that coaches look for when making final roster decisions.
Beyond the field action, the video highlighted personal stories of perseverance, particularly featuring an undrafted free agent who had worked tirelessly on practice squads for four years before finally earning a spot on the active roster. The coach expressed deep appreciation for this player's hard work and special teams contributions, noting that while nothing in football is permanent, his performance had given him a clear path to making the team. This narrative underscored the theme that success in the league often comes from relentless daily effort and the ability to earn one's place again every single day, regardless of past achievements or current competition.
As training camp wrapped up, players were encouraged to enjoy their time with the organization before facing the uncertainty of roster cuts and the start of the regular season. The final 48 hours were framed as a transition period where athletes could reflect on their journey over the last four to five months and prepare mentally for whatever comes next. Whether players remained with the team or moved on, the message was clear that the hard work invested during camp had real value, and the experience gained would serve them well in their football careers. The video ended on a note of gratitude and motivation, reminding everyone that while the preseason is over, the grind continues as teams look forward to building winning cultures in Nashville.
Read the full video transcript
Uh, let's go.
>> Welcome for the final time in 2026 to
training camp. The Tennessee Titans will
practice with the Chicago Bears today.
Wrap a bow on training camp practices.
Get [music] ready for one final
preseason game on Saturday and then
that's it.
>> Let's go, baby. Let's go.
>> I felt like the defense really got some
stuff done.
>> Come on. Come on.
They were really getting after the
quarterback stuff in the run in the back
[music] field. I felt like the defense
certainly won. [cheering]
>> What I saw from Cam Ward was really,
really good stuff.
[screaming]
>> And he hit Carnell Tate on the sideline.
He hit Gunnar Helm on the sideline one
time with a great throw under pressure.
couple of touchdown passes.
>> Now, I have a hard time saying numbers,
but what I will tell you is I think the
Titans won the practice session again.
>> All right, guys. That is football. All
right, the first quarter might not go
the way you want it to go. Neither might
the second quarter might not go the way
you want it to go. It might go perfect.
All right, but how you handle yourself
coming back out of the locker room is
everything. And that's what we've been
training for, guys. And I thought today
was an a perfect example of started out
a little bit slow and all freaking 90 of
you guys, man, just stepped on the gas
and put it to their neck. And I thought
it was freaking cool. With that said, uh
get your lift in. All right, take
advantage of it. Take advantage of
rehab, all the regen that you need. All
right, we'll watch the tape. We'll get
out of here by five. We good?
>> All right, Cody Bar, break us down, man.
On three. 1 2 3
Uh it's a new scheme, new system, new
coaching staff, new era. Uh so it's
going to be real fun. It's going to be a
great opportunity to put our new
identity on tape. I think as a team,
man, Coach Salah, he set the tone, man.
He uh he said it was going to be one of
the hardest cameras of our life. Felt
like it was. Then we got a lot better.
kind of talk about what you kind of want
to prove to him tonight going into this
final preseason game.
>> I'm I'm really excited to prove myself
to establish myself as a second round
pick. Um that I'm fast and violent, that
I'm a I'm a young player that has great
goals for myself to uh help the team,
show that they drafted the right guy and
someone that can help this team win,
make impact plays, and bring wins back
to Nashville.
>> For many, it's a chance for one final
tuneup. For others, it's an opportunity
to prove themselves and make Titans
football there 9 to5. For building
confidence, for deciding final spots on
the 53man roster, for the final pieces
of the puzzle to come together, 15 days
away from week one against the New York
Jets. Welcome to the pre-season finale
between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago
Bears.
>> HEY, BRING IT IN. HEY, MAN. PLAY HARD
ALL DAY, MAN. IT'S THE LAST TIME WE
TOGETHER. PUT IT ON TAPE. PUT ON FOR
YOUR TEAM. PUT ON FOR YOUR PEOPLE. LET'S
GET PAID. HEY, GET PAID ON ME. GET PAID
ON THREE. 1 2 3. GET PAID.
>> HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY for people to make
their case. Their final case this
evening.
>> Tried to end the round. Balls on the
ground. Looks like the Titans have it.
Yes, they do. Jacob Martin. You just
heard his name. And he's got the ball.
>> Hey dog, that's on that's on me, man.
>> That should that should have been
points. you a receiving point.
>> And a good tackle by that man, Anthony
Hill, the rookie out of Texas.
>> Anthony Hill Jr. has been credited with
half of the tackles that the Titans
defense has so far in this football
game.
>> He most definitely has earned himself a
whole lot of reps moving forward in the
regular season with his production.
>> So, another fourth down coming up.
>> You got to be able to be in in a spot to
where you can just hold the line here.
Brown runs right at the height. HE
DIDN'T GET IT, BABY.
COME ON. COME ON.
>> Come on.
>> Ola. Ola Dejo on the tackle.
>> Come on. Come on. Let's go.
>> Great job. Way to get off the fire.
>> And with 1 second left in the half, here
comes Joey Sly again.
>> Has Joey Sly missed in about what, two
months?
>> This for 25 yds.
>> Oh, he's locked in. And his perfect
training camp continues. And at the end
of the first half, [music]
Chicago leads the Titans 14 to9
to start this third quarter. I see
Femiola Dejo Ken.
This time he's in trouble. And that time
he goes down. [screaming]
>> Let's go.
>> Femi Ola Dejo on the sack. Love to call
his name out. I think it'll be Henden
Hooker the rest of the way.
>> Steps up, will take off. He'll run.
First down. Henden Hooker taking on
Bears past the 40 yd line. They never
got him on the ground. Hooker on a
design run on the third and six. Oh, he
makes a move. Another spin move past the
40 yd line. Okay, big fella.
>> This will be the first loss of the
preseason for the Titans. 24-5 to the
Bears. All the teams now have made it to
the the finish line here of the
preseason. Look forward to the cut down
days tomorrow and the regular season
beginning for both of these teams here
in a couple of weeks.
>> What are the next 48 hours like as a
player in this league?
>> Just enjoy tonight what Nashville has
allowed you to enjoy over the last four
or five months of of being a Tennessee
Titan. And wherever the cars may lay
tomorrow, you you enjoy what that is.
True.
>> True.
>> Good.
>> Drew.
[snorts]
>> Yeah, I did. Got you as an undrafted
free agent.
>> Yeah.
>> Was that four years ago?
>> Yeah. About four years ago.
>> And you put a lot of hard work in,
right?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Like busted your ass. Yes, sir.
>> On practice squads.
>> Mhm.
>> Um and you continue to bust your ass.
Um, you know, I just want to say all
that that hard work's payoff,
>> sir.
>> All right. So, you made the 53.
>> Oh my gosh. Thank you. Great, [laughter]
sir.
>> Thank you all.
>> You've done a great job. You know,
Bones, uh, from a special teams value,
you've been outstanding and your your,
uh, improvement pass rush, setting the
edge in the run game.
>> Uh, all of it's gotten so much better
and there's still so much room to grow.
Yeah. and uh keep attacking it every
day.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Um as you know in this lane, nothing's
forever, but you got the inside track.
You're inside the house.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Let's make sure no one else comes in.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Cool.
>> Absolutely. Absolutely.
>> Appreciate you, brother.
>> Congrats, man.
>> Keep working. All right.
>> It was a surprise for sure. I mean, we
had a great room with a lot of great
veterans. I mean, it was very
competitive and you know, I caught
myself just looking at the names and
things and think, how am I going to make
this? but just put your head down every
day and kind of work and then end up
here. They were taking a chance on me
and from there I had to earn and show
that I wanted to be here every day. So
coming into this training camp I still
have that mentality of, you know, last
year is last year. I still have to earn
it again just knowing how training camp
goes and um I would say there was never
really a clear moment. Just always I
felt like I was in contention.