D’Ernest Johnson’s fourth-quarter touchdown run capped off the Tennessee Titans’ comeback in a 19-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the second preseason game for each team Sunday evening in Nashville, Tenn.
Johnson, a well-traveled running back who played last season for the New England Patriots, scored the Titans’ only touchdown from 2 yards out with 5:45 left, giving Tennessee (2-0) its first lead of the game. It capped off the Titans’ 16-0 surge over the final 45 minutes after Seattle (0-2) led 16-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Veteran kicker Joey Slye made all four of his field-goal attempts for Tennessee, including a 55-yarder, to score all of the team’s points before the Johnson touchdown. The Titans elected to start second-year starting quarterback Cam Ward, who completed 8 of 12 passes for a team-high 69 yards in three series. Running back Tony Pollard had just two carries for 12 yards but added one catch for a team-high 33 receiving yards.
Seattle did not use starting quarterback Sam Darnold, instead relying on reserves Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe. Lock played the first half, leading three first-quarter scoring drives. He opened the scoring with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Arroyo (game-high 50 receiving yards) 3:48 into the game.
Seattle rookie running back Jacardia Wright extended the lead to 13-3 with 5:43 left in the first behind a 69-yard touchdown run which buoyed his eight-carry, 81-yard rushing performance.
Lock finished 12-of-14 passing for 103 yards and the touchdown. Milroe did not have the same success after halftime, completing 6 of 11 passes for 52 yards and two interceptions, which were made by Anthony Hill Jr. and Derrick Canteen, with the latter’s pick ending Seattle’s final possession of the game.