Seahawks–Titans Sunday decision guide: five roles worth tracking

CONFIRMED REPORTING

Seattle visits Tennessee at 8 p.m. ET Sunday at Nissan Stadium in the final game of the NFL's second preseason weekend. FOX carries the national broadcast, according to both clubs' official schedules. The teams held a joint practice Friday in Nashville.

Tennessee's official preview says the Titans opened the preseason with a 19–13 win at San Francisco. The club rushed for 167 yards, Tony Pollard scored on a five-yard run and Joey Slye made four field goals, including attempts from 55, 53 and 58 yards. Seven of Tennessee's eight 2026 draft picks appeared in that opener, including first-round selections Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk.

In the Titans' official account of Friday's joint practice, team reporter Jim Wyatt charted Cam Ward at 22 completions on 28 attempts across seven-on-seven and team periods. That tally is a reporter's practice chart, not an official game statistic. Wyatt also reported that Ward finished a two-minute sequence with a touchdown pass to Daniel Bellinger.

The evaluation points below are FourthWire analysis. They are not confirmed depth-chart decisions or roster outcomes.

FOURTHWIRE DECISION BOARD

• Tennessee's offense: does the operation travel from practice to a game?

Practice completion totals are useful only with context. Sunday's better test is whether Ward controls the huddle, identifies pressure and keeps the offense on schedule when Seattle can tackle and disguise coverage through the snap. FourthWire will separate clean decisions from the final result of each play.

• Seattle's backfield: who earns complete-series responsibility?

The most informative signal will be which backs remain on the field across early downs, passing situations and protection assignments. A single explosive run can change a box score; repeated work through a full series says more about trust and role versatility.

• Tennessee's first-round rookies: where are Tate and Faulk deployed?

Tate and Faulk appeared in the opener, but participation alone does not define a regular-season role. Track Tate's alignment, route responsibilities and blocking work. For Faulk, watch whether pressure comes from an individual win, a stunt or a protection error. Deployment is evidence; it is not a final depth chart.

• Protection and pressure: which solutions repeat?

The joint-practice report offers a controlled reference point, while Sunday adds live contact and game timing. FourthWire will note protection changes, communication against movement and whether quarterbacks have a planned answer when the first read is removed. Sack totals without assignment context can mislead.

• Specialist and coverage units: who adds roster value away from scrimmage?

Slye's four-for-four opener provides confirmed production, including three makes from at least 50 yards. The broader roster question is which reserve players contribute across kick coverage, return, protection and emergency roles. Those snaps can separate players competing for similar offensive or defensive jobs.

WHAT SUNDAY WILL NOT DECIDE

Neither club has announced final roster winners from the joint practice or this matchup. Preseason participation is shaped by health, workload and evaluation needs. FourthWire will label role conclusions as analysis until a club confirms a transaction or depth-chart decision.

NEXT CHECKPOINT

Seattle closes its preseason at Kansas City on Aug. 28. Tennessee hosts Chicago on Aug. 29. NFL clubs must reduce rosters to 53 players by Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET.