Tennessee Titans’ Anthony Hill Will Use Bye Week to Improve
NASHVILLE Jim Wyatt reported Nov. 4, 2026 that Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. will use the team’s bye week to evaluate his play and find ways to improve after a strong start to his first NFL season. Through eight games, Hill ranks second in the NFL with 82 tackles. He has started all eight games and led the defense with 14 tackles in Cincinnati for the second time this season. Hill said he plans to take time during the bye to review film and address plays he left on the field.
Hill has 35 solo tackles and 47 assists to total 82, along with 10 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, one tackle for loss and three passes defensed, Wyatt reported. He and Azeez Al-Shaair are the only Titans defenders since 2000 to reach 80 or more tackles through the team’s first eight games of a season. Hill is also the first rookie to post at least five tackles in each of his team’s first eight games of a season since Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker did so in 2022. Those production markers have helped him earn a leadership role on defense.
Hill earned the green dot as a defensive communicator and said his communication and ability to disengage from blocks have improved since the start of the season. He acknowledged there are plays he wants back and specific areas to work on, including open-field tackling and punching the ball out more. Hill said he will use the bye to evaluate himself and get his body healthy for the remainder of the season. He credited lessons from former teammate Jeffery Simmons on body care and nutrition as part of his preparation.
Hill was a second-round pick of the Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas and has started every game this season. He noted the NFL season’s longer schedule and increased physical toll compared with college and said his Texas experience helped prepare him for heavier workloads. Hill said he expects more recovery work, including massages, to manage soreness after games. He expressed optimism about adding sacks or interceptions as his game continues to develop.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Hill’s early production and communicator role indicate an immediate impact for the Tennessee defense. His tackle totals and consistent playing time show why the team entrusted him with the green dot and leadership duties. The areas he identified for improvementor example, open-field tackling and turnover creation
re concrete and addressable during the bye through focused practice and film study. If he leverages recovery and technique work, he can continue to be a key contributor as the Titans progress through the season.