Seahawks vs. Titans Preseason Preview 2026: Time, TV and What to Watch

Football Nation
7 hours ago
3 min read

Seattle and Tennessee close the weekend on national television Sunday night after sharing a joint practice Friday. That sequence matters. Coaches can use the controlled practice to test specific situations, then see which corrections survive the faster pace and less predictable structure of a game.

The Seahawks enter as the reigning Super Bowl LX champions, but their reserve units left the preseason opener with a direct challenge from Mike Macdonald: improve the operation and finish drives. Tennessee opened the Robert Saleh era with a 19 to 13 win over San Francisco, powered by the run game, defense and Joey Slye's leg.

Game information

Detail	Information
Kickoff	Sunday, August 23 at 7 p.m. Central
Venue	Nissan Stadium, Nashville
TV	FOX nationally
Stream	FOX One and NFL+ where eligible

Preseason snapshot

Team	Opening result	Numbers that matter
Seahawks	Lost 17 to 7 vs. Dallas	Jalen Milroe: 36 passing yards and 36 rushing yards
Titans	Won 19 to 13 vs. San Francisco	167 rushing yards on 31 carries

Seattle needs cleaner offensive operation

Drew Lock completed nine of 13 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown in the opener. Milroe completed five of eight passes for 36 yards and added 36 rushing yards on five carries. The numbers show two different evaluation paths. Lock is judged on tempo, ball placement and finishing a possession. Milroe adds movement ability, but Seattle also needs the passing operation to stay on schedule when the first read is covered.

Montorie Foster Jr. caught five passes for 36 yards and the team's touchdown. He can strengthen his roster case by showing that the production carries over after Tennessee has seen him in the joint practice. Rookie running back Jadarian Price is also progressing back from minor lower body soreness, giving the backfield another name to monitor.

Tennessee's run game meets a championship standard

The Titans rushed for 167 yards at 5.4 yards per carry against San Francisco. Cam Ward led a 90 yard touchdown drive, and Tony Pollard finished it with a five yard score. Seattle's 2025 defense allowed only 17.2 points per game, best in the league, but the preseason challenge belongs to the depth players responsible for preserving run fits and tackling without help.

Tennessee also held San Francisco to 84 rushing yards and 3.0 yards per carry. That is an encouraging first step for Saleh's new 4 and 3 structure. The Seahawks need to see whether their reserve line can create movement and whether the backs can find the right cut without bouncing every run outside.

Three roster battles with real stakes

Seattle receiver depth: Foster supplied the opener's touchdown, and the next test is winning against defenders who have already studied him during joint work. Blocking and special teams snaps can matter as much as another catch.

Titans interior offensive line: The competition around center and right guard remains important. Austin Schlottmann and Fernando Carmona Jr. need clean exchanges, protection calls and enough movement to keep Tennessee's run game efficient.

Tennessee rookies on defense: Seven of eight draft picks debuted in the opener. First round receiver Carnell Tate and defensive end Keldric Faulk were among them, with Faulk starting. Sunday provides another step against a Seattle roster built around a demanding defensive culture.

Special teams could shape the whole night

Slye made field goals from 39, 55, 53 and 58 yards against San Francisco. Seattle countered with a 52 yard punt return from Rashad Rochelle in its opener. In a game dominated by reserve possessions, one return or one long kick can flip the score and decide which players earn another week of evaluation.

Football Nation read

The joint practice may contain the best first unit work, but the game should reveal which team learns faster. Tennessee wants its run game and new defensive front to remain physical. Seattle wants cleaner quarterback operation, better finishing and another dependable pass catcher. The winner will likely be the team that protects field position and avoids the drive ending penalty.