RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Aug 23, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans wider receiver Carnell Tate (14) during warmup period against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium. © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Tennessee Titans made their plan clear in April as they committed to building around Cam Ward. To give their young quarterback a big target, Tennessee spent the fourth overall pick on 6’3” Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.
However, the early excitement around Tate has faded after two preseason appearances. He has yet to record a reception despite seeing five total targets, leaving Titans fans increasingly unsure about what to expect.
Fans Call Out Titans Rookie Carnell Tate For His Preseason Struggles
That frustration grew during Tennessee’s preseason matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
Early in the first quarter, the Titans trailed 0–7 on a second-and-5 when Ward dropped back with relatively clean protection. He spotted Tate down the field near the numbers, then delivered a firm throw.
Although Tate reached the spot, he could not secure the pass, and the ball fell incomplete.
One fan shared the play and pointed the blame toward the receiver after seeing Ward put the ball in his area.
“Nice throw by Cam. Tate gotta catch that,” the fan wrote .
Another supporter followed with an even stronger assessment , writing, “He needs to tighten up, he has not looked the part.”
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The criticism became louder as more fans compared Tate’s output with other Tennessee receivers.
“Carnell Tate: zero catches for zero yards through 2 preseason games but let’s all talk about Omar Cooper,” one user wrote.
Another user added, “Malachi Fields better than Carnell Tate.”
Tate’s struggles started in his debut against the San Francisco 49ers, when he received three targets while playing with the starting offense on the opening drives. One of those opportunities even came in the red zone on a second-down play.
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Still, Tate could not turn those chances into a catch. He failed to haul in any of the passes against San Francisco and appeared noticeably slowed when he tried to create separation from coverage.
Then, the midweek practice added another setback for Carnell Tate.
The fourth overall pick took a heavy hit, although head coach Robert Saleh quickly dismissed concerns about a concussion. Still, Tate dealt with lingering muscle stiffness that kept him out of several drills.
However, he returned for joint practices and suited up against the Seattle Seahawks. He received two additional targets but again failed to bring down a pass.
While Tate is still searching for his first official NFL reception, fans shared their frustration on social media.
One user shared a photo of New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, in which he questioned Tennessee’s decision to select Tate.
“He hasn’t even been the No. 1 on the team he’s been on,” Nabers said in the clip.
Another fan expressed concern about the early results, writing, “I know it’s just preseason, but it’s not looking too good. ”Meanwhile, another user added , “Ok… It’s a little concerning.”
It remains far too early to panic over Tate, given that he is in his rookie season . However, Tate must use the remaining time to build timing with Ward before the regular season arrives.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
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