LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Tennessee Titans had third-and-3 from the Bears’ 48-yard line on their first possession in the preseason. It was a good moment to take a shot down the field. And that’s what quarterback Will Levis did.

Rookie receiver Carnell Tate – the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft who had diced up the Bears two days earlier in practice – took off past backup cornerback Josh Blackwell. Tate, as he should have, beat Blackwell by a few steps.

The problem for the Titans was that the Bears now have what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen describes as an “eraser” in their secondary. 

Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman made a play. Officially, it wasn’t recorded as a pass breakup. But Thieneman started off on the far hashes on the 35 before turning and cutting off Tate at the opposite numbers on the 10. He followed Tate into the end zone, where Levis’ bomb hit the turf and fell incomplete. Thieneman was in the way. The Titans’ prized draft pick couldn’t make a highlight-reel catch. Instead, the highlight belonged to the Bears’ first-round pick.

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