Titans overcome 13-point deficit to beat starter-less Seahawks, 19-16

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are undefeated this preseason with new coach Robert Saleh. They also have a lot to work on before the season opener.

D'Ernest Johnson had a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:45 left to help the Titans overcome a 13-point deficit Sunday night and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 19-16 in a preseason game.

Joey Slye kicked four field goals, including a long of 55 yards, as the Titans (2-0) gave Saleh a win in his preseason home debut. Slye chipped away at a lead built by Seattle's backups with coach Mike Macdonald resting his starters after a joint practice with the Seahawks' preseason finale Friday night.

“It’s got to be better,” Saleh said. “Guys, I’m not trying to sugar coat it.”

Drew Lock threw for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Jacardia Wright ran 69 yards for a touchdown as Seattle (0-2) jumped out to a 16-3 lead.

“It was a successful week, but ultimately you want to be able to win these games,” Macdonald said. "But we definitely made an improvement from last week, so let’s keep going.”

Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD.

Cam Ward started for Tennessee with the rest of the starters and was 8 of 12 for 69 yards. He led the Titans to Slye's first field goal. Ward also had the ball poked out of his hand by linebacker Chazz Surratt as the quarterback scrambled right early in the second on his third and final drive.

Both Saleh and Ward credited Surratt with making a great play. Ward also was just as confident talking about the Titans' offense.

“We’re actually right there to getting where we want to be," Ward said. "And the coaching staff, they continue to push us to that standpoint where we want to be, but it’s going to end up paying off.”

The Titans also had three penalties in the first quarter, including an illegal contact on cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, among their many defensive free agents signed in March. The penalty on Flott wiped out safety Kevin Winston Jr.'s interception at the Titans 3.

Even when Jalen McMurray recovered a muffed punt return by Seattle's Cody White at the Seahawks 11, the Titans still had to settle for a field goal after a holding penalty wiped out Mitch Trubisky's 4-yard TD pass to Xavier Restrepo.

The Seahawks had their moments. Celebrating Wright's TD so enthusiastically Seattle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Jason Myers missed the extra long extra point attempt just right for a 13-3 lead. Myers also pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter.

Seattle lost wide receiver Jake Bobo to a knee injury that had him carted out of Friday's joint practice and placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Left guard Mason Richman went down on the opening drive and had to be helped to the sideline after getting his right leg stretched. Macdonald said they have to figure out what the specific issue is, but he called it a “major injury, a long-term injury.”

On Seattle's first defensive play, rookie safety Bud Clark broke his right ankle and Macdonald said he'll miss months. Trainers put his leg in an air cast, and players from both teams came up to the rookie before he was carted off the field. Clark was Seattle's second-round pick and 64th overall out of Texas Christian.

“Two guys that we love, that play our style of ball, that are our type of guys,” Macdonald said of Richman and Clark. "Teammates love ’em, great teammates, great guys, great football players. They have great futures. It’s a heartbreaker, honestly. We’ve had three heartbreakers this week, which is tough.”

The Seahawks and Titans kept officials very busy. Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee was penalized 11 for 100 yards.

The Seahawks wrap up the preseason Friday night at Kansas City.

The Titans host Chicago on Saturday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) celebrates with teammates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Bud Clark (9) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans kicker Joey Slye (6) celebrates with teammate Tommy Townsend (3) after kicking a field goal during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans running back Dominic Richardson (21) runs from Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle J.R. Singleton (70) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jordan Washington, rear, breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans tight end Joel Wilson (83) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

CHICAGO (AP) — The rematch was no big deal.

There were no major issues for Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington in Indiana's 113-90 victory over Chicago on Sunday night. Cunningham scored three points for the Fever in 11 minutes, and Carrington had seven points for the Sky in 18 minutes.

It was the first matchup between the teams since Cunningham was taken down by Carrington on a fast break earlier this month. Carrington was listed as questionable with a left foot injury, but she was cleared after going through warmups.

Cunningham downplayed any lingering animosity between the teams going into the game. Indiana had dropped two in a row.

“My mindset has never changed. I think it is what it is,” Cunningham said. “I’m locked in on tonight. ... I think we’re just out here trying to get the win.”

Cunningham and Carrington both checked in for the first time with 3:04 left in the first quarter. There were no disputes of note between the two players all night long.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh said he didn't have any conversations with his players before the game about the charged atmosphere for their previous matchup.

“That kind of was what it was last game and anything that came out of it kind of lasted for that time,” Marsh said. “But for us, again, it was on to the next one in front of us.”

Cunningham was going up for a layup in the first quarter of Indiana's 90-86 win on Aug. 8 when Carrington came from behind and hit her in the head and neck, knocking her to the court as the shot went in. Cunningham got up, charged Carrington and pushed her as she was held back by a teammate.

The play was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2 after the referee said there was windup, impact and follow-through on the foul, resulting in Carrington's ejection.

Shortly after she was thrown out, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media and tagged the Fever. Carrington is Black and Cunningham is white.

Days later, Carrington posted that she never claimed the assessment of the Flagrant 2 was the result of white privilege, but she didn't elaborate any further.

“I (couldn't) care less about what she does, what she tweets, any of that,” Cunningham said before Sunday's game. "I’m here to play basketball.

“There's going to be people who are going to talk about it ... but to me, it’s just another basketball game.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Chicago Sky guard-forward DiJonai Carrington, center, shoots against Indiana Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen, left, and forward Monique Billings during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, gets a high-five from guard Sophie Cunningham during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham runs on the court during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, left, drives to the basket as Chicago Sky guard-forward DiJonai Carrington, right, defends during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, right, warms up as guard Caitlin Clark, left, talks with teammates before a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)