NASHVILLE – Titans receiver Carnell Tate said nothing was different on Thursday, in terms of how he attacked practice.
"Not every day is going to go your way," Tate said. "Just trust the process and stay ready."
One thing was different in terms of his productivity: Tate had one of his best days of training camp in a joint practice against the Chicago Bears, as he hauled in a team-high seven catches, and two touchdowns.
"It went pretty good," Tate said after the session. "We continue to build on our connection, and we continue to get better as a team and as a program."
After practice, Titans quarterback Cam Ward was asked why he kept throwing to Tate on Thursday.
"He was open, honestly," Ward said. "Giving me a step on the defender, and then me and him also continuing to grow together, me putting the ball in a radius where he can make a play on it. And then him making a play when I am not as accurate. It is vice versa, but he had a pretty good day and he showed why he was that pick. But me and him, it is more of us continuing to be consistent, whether I am going to him a lot, or I am going to him one time. Me and him have to continue to be in the same mindset, that we're the go-getters, and we have to make plays."
The fourth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Tate had been quiet in recent training camp practices, and he still doesn't have a catch in the preseason after two games, and five targets.
But Tate was all over the place in Thursday's practice, catching balls in the middle of the field, and in the end zone.
Tate hauled in a touchdown pass from Ward to cap off a team period early, and he caught another touchdown pass from Ward at the end of a Move the Ball period late. Tate also outfought Bears defender Tyrique Stevenson for a football on the sideline, and he then turned around and raced downfield for a big play.
"I think ups and downs come with football, and comes with life," Tate said. "You just have to get over those times."
In 15 training camp practices, including joint practices against the 49ers, Seahawks and Bears, Tate hauled in 33 passes in either 7-on-7 or team drills.
Tate said he didn't know the last practice of camp would end up being his busiest. Tate said he's getting more comfortable with the playbook, and feels like he is playing faster.
"You never know how practice is going to go, and you never know how games are going to go," Tate said. "You always have to be ready. And today, the ball came my way."
