SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In their first dress rehearsal for the regular season, the Titans got mixed reviews.
The starting offense looked sharp early, before cooling off.
The starting defense got a few early stops, but then gave up a scoring drive.
Four field goals by kicker Joey Slye also provided some highlights for the Titans.
It was all part of the preseason opener, a game the Titans won 19-13 over the 49ers.
"I liked the way we came out," Coach Robert Saleh said after the game. "Overall, 1s, 2s and 3s, I thought our defense did a really nice job. Offensively, really, really cool drive to start the game … and then from there it just never really looked like we settled in."
Tennessee's starters ended up playing roughly 20 plays in the game before being replaced by back-ups, who played the rest of the way.
Quarterback Cam Ward finished the contest 5-of-12 for 57 yards before being relieved by Mitchell Trubisky in the second quarter.
"It felt good to get back out there," Ward said. "(The preseason) is going to help me a lot, help me get back in rhythm, get the flow of the game back. It's going to help us a whole lot playing a certain amount of reps every game."
A 95-yard drive for a touchdown on the team's opening drive of the preseason was a thing of beauty as the Robert Saleh era began in Tennessee, and it was the biggest highlight of this night.
Ward connected with receiver Calvin Ridley and tight end Gunnar Helm for gains of 18 and 16 yards, respectively, and running back Tyjae Spears ripped off a 25-yard run to put the Titans in striking distance. Running back Tony Pollard then capped off the 11-play drive with a five-yard run, and the Titans took a 7-0 lead at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter.
On defense, the Titans starters were on the field for three series, with the exception of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who played the first two series.
The 49ers offense, playing with back-up quarterback Kurtis Rourke, was able to drive the field and score on a one-yard touchdown run by Patrick Taylor to make it 7-7 in the second quarter.
It was the biggest lowlight of the night.
"I felt overall, run-game wise we were pretty solid," linebacker Cody Barton said. "I think the pass game, there's some things we can clean up, tighten up some coverage here and there. But every opportunity you go out there, there are things you're going to find you get better at. It was just fun to be back out there, first time."
Added Saleh: "I'd love to tell you no concern, but definitely there's a sense of urgency with regards to making sure we get it fixed. … We'll never panic, but urgency will always be high."
The Titans kept the lead over the 49ers the rest of the way, thanks to the leg of Slye.
A 39-yard field goal by Slye gave the Titans a 10-7 lead at the 1:21 mark of the second quarter.
Another Slye field goal, this one from 55 yards at the halftime horn, gave the Titans a 13-7 lead after 30 minutes.
Will Levis started the second half for the Titans, and Hendon Hooker finished the contest.
After the 49ers cut Tennessee's lead to 13-10 on an Eddy Pineiro field goal with 6:18 left in the third quarter, another field goal from Slye, this one from 53 yards out, made it 16-10 Titans with 2:47 left in the third quarter.
Slye's fourth field goal of the night, from 58 yards, made it 19-10 with 2:23 left, before another Pineiro field, with 48 seconds left, made it 19-13, and that was final.
The Titans will return to action next Sunday at Nissan Stadium in preseason game No.2 against the Seahawks.
The Tennessee Titans take on the San Francisco 49ers in Preseason Week 1 at Levi's Stadium.
Quarterback Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans arrival before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Locker room scenes before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback Alontae Taylor #24 of the Tennessee Titans arrival before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo #87 of the Tennessee Titans arrival before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Locker room scenes before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive end Jermaine Johnson II #11 of the Tennessee Titans arrival before the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans vs the San Francisco 49ers preseason game at Levis Stadium on August 13, 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
