Tennessee Titans score updates vs Minnesota Vikings in 2023 NFL preseason
After a week of joint practices, the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings are meeting up for a preseason showdown.
The Titans and Vikings face off at 7 p.m. from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, bringing an end to a week that saw the teams battle each other in a pair of training camp practices. The Titans' defense proved to be fearsome in the two practices while both offenses tried their best to play efficient amid extremely windy conditions.
Two notable injuries made headlines for the Titans this week, with receiver Treylon Burks leaving Wednesday's practice with a left leg injury and quarterback Will Levis going inside from Thursday's practice early for undisclosed reasons. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Burks isn't expected to miss much time but will need to rehab before he returns from his injury. He didn't give any update on Levis' status for Saturday beyond saying the team will have to see what happens.
Missed time for Levis could mean prolonged exposure for second-year passer Malik Willis. Willis and Levis alternated every other drive in the Titans' first preseason game, a loss versus the Chicago Bears last weekend.
This matchup against the Vikings is the second of three preseason matchups for the Titans; they also will face the New England Patriots next week.
Follow below for live updates of the Titans vs. the Vikings.
Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings: Preseason live updates
Titans defeat Vikings 24-16
Fourth quarter
Final drive: Jacques Patrick again figures big in this drive that prevented the Vikings' offense from getting back on the field. He finished with eight carries and 29 yards.
Vikings score, trail Titans 24-16
5:50 left: Vikings chew up a lot of clock, 12 plays, 83 yards, 6:31 that resulted in 1-yard touchdown from DeWayne McBride.
Titans injuries piling up
Jaelyn Duncan has been taken to the locker room with a concussion. This is addition to WR Kearis Jackson (knee) and Kyle Philips (knee).
Titans' Malik Willis with passing touchdown
13:46 left: Willis scrambles again, down to the Vikings 5. But the play is under review. Vikings challenge whether he got first down. Call on the field stands. Willis passes to Chestnut, 1-yard score in lower left corner of end zone. Wolff with the extra point. Titans lead 24-9.
Third quarter
And Titans bring in ... Mason Kinsey?
2:06 left: A guest appearance from wide receiver Mason Kinsey as quarterback? But Willis is back under center.
Titans' Julius Chestnut scores
4:11 left: Chestnut scores on 5-yard run. Wolff with the extra point. This drive was more efficient: seven plays, 61 yards, 4:01. Running game looks way better than the passing. Titans with a 17-9 lead.
Titans' Malik Willis uses his legs
6:10 left: Malik Willis looking for options, sees none, scampers deftly down right sideline, slides to safety. A gain of 26 yards. This drive has featured a lot of Jacques Patrick, who the Titans signed Aug. 14.
Injury update: Kearis Jackson injured his knee on third-quarter opening kickoff, his return is listed as questionable. Eric Garror will take over punt returning duties.
Titans take back lead 10-9
9:53 left: Julius Chestnut starts drive with 9-yard gain. Next play, sees open space, 55-yard run to the Vikings' 4. Willis sacked, loss of yardage. He shows patience on next play, sees streaking Tre'Shaun Harrison across the back of the end zone, but Vikings' Joejuan Williams prevents what would have been spectacular score. Trey Wolff kicks 22-yard field goal.
Titans' Steven Jones in right place
12:46 left: Jaren Hall now quarterbacking for Vikings. Pass intended for Blake Proehl could have been long gain, but Steven Jones was there covering. Minnesota offense not faring well, either, with three-and-out, 7 yards.
Titans rookie Kearis Jackson injured
Start: Titans receiving. Kearis Jackson has 33-yard kickoff return, but comes up from the pile limping. He walks off the field. Titans go 3-and-out.
First half
Halftime stats: Most obvious discrepancy is passing yardage: Malik Willis, 6-for 11, 57 yards, one interception. Nick Mullens, 13-for 23, 151 yards. Tyjae Spears is a spot of positivity, seven carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Second quarter
Titans at halftime trailing 9-7
0:16 left: Vikings take lead with Joseph's 26-yard field goal after seven-play, 46-yard drive in 1:34. They had been going shotgun and no huddle, called timeout with 24 seconds left, at the Titans 8, second-and-10. Titans decline an illegal formation penalty.
Titans' Tre Avery fumbles
1:59 left: Off Vikings' 28-yard punt, but Tre Avery muffs the catch. Tay Gowan credited with the recovery.
Titans' Malik Willis with interception
4:07 left: Willis wanted that throw to Racey McMath down the middle. Troy Dye cuts in, intercepts at Vikings' 40.
Titans 7, Vikings 6
6:50 left: Another Joseph field goal, this one 33 yards. Vikings drive was 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:23.
Titans 7, Vikings 3
13:21 left: Vikings cut deficit to 7-3 after Greg Joseph's 48-yard field goal. Drive had started at Minnesota's 25-yard line.
Titans' penalties a problem
11:11 left: Titans decide to go for it on fourth-and-1. Julius Chestnut is successful with 5-yard run. Penalty (offensive holding) nullifies it, now it's fourth-and-11. On TV, Mike Vrabel looks like he's about to explode. Ryan Stonehouse with the punt, another Titans offensive holding penalty.
First quarter
Titans' Tyjae Spears scores
1:06 left: Titans break the drought. Spears scores on 33-yard run. Caleb Shudak gets the extra point.
Titans' receiver Kyle Philips injured
10:37 left: Kyle Philips leaves the game after fielding a punt. He was tackled immediately after catching the punt. He is listed as questionable to return.
Malik Willis goes 3-and-out on first drive
11:32 left: After the Titans' second team defense turned the Vikings over on downs, the Titans offense, with Willis and the first-team offensive line, went 3-and-out. Willis had to escape the closing pocket on second down, then was forced to check down on 3rd down. Tyjae Spears was short of the first down marker, but good work by Willis to complete the pass while being hit by a blitzing linebacker.
Will Levis out tonight
Backup quarterback Will Levis is seen on the sideline wearing a sleeve on his left thigh.
LEFT PRACTICE ON THURSDAY: Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis not expected to play vs. Minnesota Vikings
Our Twitter.com Titans follower list
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans score updates vs Vikings in 2023 NFL preseason
