Tennessee
Brian Callahan gives Will Levis injury update for Titans vs Lions game in NFL Week 8
Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan hasn’t yet ruled quarterback Will Levis out for the Titans’ game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Speaking to media on Friday after the Titans’ final practice of the week, Callahan didn’t announce whether the team will start Levis or backup Mason Rudolph when the Titans (1-5) face the Lions (5-1) at Ford Field on Sunday (noon, FOX). Callahan said the decision will be made this weekend, but there isn’t much more the team will have to see before making the determination.
“We kind of have a pretty good idea of where we’re headed,” Callahan said. “We’ll be ready to play on Sunday with them. It’s either (Levis) is starting or he’s not. He’ll be inactive if he’s not starting.”
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Levis told media Thursday that he’s been limiting how much he throws as he’s trying to manage his rehab. Callahan told reporters Monday that it was “likely” that Levis will sit out this game to continue resting his injured shoulder, just as he did in Week 7 against Buffalo.
Rudolph was 25-for-40 with 212 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost against Buffalo.
Titans injury updates: L’Jarius Sneed, Calvin Ridley, T’Vondre Sweat
The Titans will be without cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, the star cornerback who hasn’t practiced this week as he continues to deal with a quad injury. This is the second consecutive game Sneed is missing after taking a helmet to his upper thigh in the Titans’ Week 6 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. Without Sneed, the Titans are likely to start Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Darrell Baker Jr. at outside cornerback as they did versus Buffalo.
Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat has missed practice two days running with a hip injury. Callahan said Sweat has reached the point in the season that certain players do where he just needs extra time to recuperate. Callahan did not indicate whether Sweat will have an injury designation.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday’s and Thursday’s sessions with a foot injury. Callahan said Ridley should be able to play.
Brian Callahan reflects on DeAndre Hopkins trade
Callahan has three notebooks that he’s used as running diaries to reflect on his decisions and lessons learned since being hired as Titans coach. Those notebooks got a little extra workout this week after the team decided to trade receiver DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Ernest Jones IV to contenders.
“There’s a time and a place for different leadership. For me, you have to find a way to get guys going again and get guys ready to play,” Callahan said. “There’s a human element and there’s some disappointment. Those are guys’ teammates and friends. There are guys have been good players over their time in the league. My job is to try to get our guys ready to play. You learn a lot about how you approach people and how you approach those situation.”
On Wednesday, before the trades were made final, Callahan alluded to the fact that the trade decisions were out of his control. Titans GM Ran Carthon has not spoken to media since the trades, but Callahan commented on the process that led to Hopkins and Jones being shipped off, and the thought process from the coaching staff as the trades were being discussed and finalized.
“You know those things, when conversations start I’m aware of when they start and what happens,” Callahan said. “They’re trying to do the best thing. Like I said the other day, there’s two parts to the business. One is now and the other is future. There’s people working on both of those things. When they come up, you think about what is best for the future. Collecting some draft capital is good for us right now to get more picks and more people. Young players in our building. I totally understand how it works and why it happens. I’m on board with those decisions when they get made. Whenever we make them, we go forward and we roll.”
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Tennessee
Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator
Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.
“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.
“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”
Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.
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Tennessee
Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates
Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.
UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.
Game times and television designations will be announced later.
Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.
Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.
Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.
Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.
Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.
Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.
Tennessee football 2026 schedule
- Sept. 5: Furman
- Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
- Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
- Sept. 26: Texas*
- Oct. 3: Auburn*
- Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
- Oct. 17: Alabama*
- Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
- Oct. 31: Open
- Nov. 7: Kentucky*
- Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
- Nov. 21: LSU*
- Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*
*SEC game
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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