NFL football returns – sort of – as Titans start preseason schedule

Hey, are you ready for some real NFL football?

Well, too bad.

There's still about a month until the regular season begins. In the meantime, we'll bide our time with the NFL's preseason exhibition games. In the case of the Tennessee Titans, their three-game preseason schedule begins tonight in Baltimore against the Ravens (6:30 p.m., TV: WKRN).

This is Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes here, looking ahead to that Titans game, while also telling you to not bother looking for Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill once it begins.

Given that most star players and many starters have ceased participating in preseason games for fear of injury, the games seemingly grow less significant each year. They'll mean the world, though, to the players actually out there fighting to impress enough to earn a roster spot.

And for the Titans, there will be some worthwhile storylines in this Ravens game. The Tennessean's Ben Arthur detailed eight things he'll be watching tonight. (Ben also writes our Talkin' Titans newsletter. If you aren't signed up, you can do so here.)

Most notable: The young cornerbacks, ongoing competitions on the offensive line and the quarterbacks. Personally, I'm especially eager to see what rookie quarterback Malik Willis is able to do out there in a live game.

It'll be an exhibition. It'll be a lot of players you don't know. And it'll be a lot of keeping things in perspective, good or bad.

But NFL football is back – sort of.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL football returns – sort of – as Titans start preseason schedule