Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate is officially back in the fold for practices after suffering a strong hit on Monday.
After missing that handful of days, Tate is now fully expected to be able to take the field for Tennessee’s second preseason contest against the Seattle Seahawks. This is good news for the Titans, who could heavily utilize Tate in 2026.
Here’s what to know about his return and his outlook.
Carnell Tate Receives High Praise From QB Cam Ward Amid Return To Practice
There have been some early negative impressions of Tate after he failed to catch a pass in the Titans’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. The Titans won that game in Levi’s Stadium, 19-13.
But, despite that, Titans quarterback Cam Ward made clear he believes there’s no need for anyone to worry. And, there shouldn’t be any concern about the Ohio State product getting down on himself and not bouncing back moving forward.
“He never shows that to the team, whether he’s frustrated or not,” Ward said. “He always comes back with a next play mentality… he wants the ball, so when the ball does get thrown his way he’s urgent to it. He goes up and high points it, there’s times when he bails me out when the ball needs to be better.”
Head coach Robert Saleh also had positive things to say about Tate, even though he did not record a catch in his debut.
“I thought he was very physical in the run game,” Saleh said following Tennessee’s first game of the preseason. “… He played physical, he played fast. He was winning his one-on-ones when he was getting those opportunities. As time goes, we’ll find ways to give him the ball.”
Carnell Tate’s 2026 Season Outlook
The preseason isn’t always an accurate depiction of how players will progress, but it’s also clear that Tate has shown a different side of himself throughout his college career and in practices.
Tate, who has been key in third-down situations and has made several clutch plays that show his potential ahead of the season, has looked like an incredibly reliable target for Ward with the ability to really move the chains on offense.
“He really doesn’t drop nothing,” Ward told the media back in May.
Tate was that way throughout his college career as well, finishing three seasons with 121 receptions for the Buckeyes, 1,872 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns over the same span as one of the team’s most important offensive players. He also had two carries for 22 yards between 2024 and 2025.
It will be interesting to see how Tate continues to develop throughout the preseason, and how much he factors into the receiving corps in what could be an exciting rookie year for him.
Ward put that perfectly, too, with a message for the doubters.
“He’s been great,” Ward told reporters in a recent meeting with the media.
“He may not have had the splash plays like he always does today, but he’s going to be a key reason we’re successful on offense.”
Tennessee Titans WR Carnell Tate Returns To Practice