Chigoziem Okonkwo News

Okonkwo's 21-yard connection with quarterback Joshua Dobbs for a touchdown with 5:32 remaining in the second quarter pushed the Titans to their largest lead of the game at 10-0 after a successful PAT by Randy Bullock. Otherwise, Okonkwo mostly was held in check as Dobbs mustered just 179 yards through the air. A rookie fourth-round pick, Okonkwo really came on in the second half of the season to finish it with 32 catches (on 46 targets) for 450 yards and three TDs. He'll now turn his attention to the 2023 campaign with Tennessee officially eliminated from the playoff picture.

Okonkwo showed immediate rapport with Joshua Dobbs, catching a pair of passes for 24 yards on the Titans' opening drive. He disappeared for the majority of the rest of the contest, though the switch from Malik Willis to Dobbs appeared to be an upgrade for Okonkwo's chances to produce. Regardless of the quarterback, Okonkwo has at least three receptions in five of his last six games.

The entire Titans' passing attack was underwhelming with Malik Willis under center in place of Ryan Tannehill (ankle). Okonkwo was no exception, as he posted his lowest yardage total since Week 8. While he's shown promise in the second half of his rookie season, Okonkwo may find it difficult to produce consistently across the final two games of the campaign.

The rookie tight end tied Derrick Henry for the team lead in catches on a day in which the Titans passing game couldn't get much going. Okonkwo has caught at least three passes in four straight games after managing only eight receptions over his first 10 NFL contests, a streak he'll look to extend in Week 16 against the Texans.

Okonkwo was praised by offensive coordinator Todd Downing leading up to Sunday's matchup, and the rookie tight end delivered. He was relied upon heavily by Ryan Tannehill, finishing third on the team in targets behind Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Robert Woods. Okonkwo made the most of that opportunity, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown and also converting a two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter. He could see his role slip once Treylon Burks (concussion) can return, but Okonkwo now has at least five targets in three consecutive games.

Austin Hooper remains the Titans' starting tight end and continues to hold an important role as a blocker and short-yardage target, but Okonkwo, a fourth-round rookie out of Maryland, appears poised to poach more work from both Hooper and Geoff Swaim. For the first time all season in the Week 13 loss to the Eagles, Okonkwo played more snaps (31) than both Hooper (26) and Swaim (20), finishing the day with four receptions for 68 yards on five targets. Okonkwo has now drawn five targets in consecutive games, and the big-play ability he's demonstrated -- he leads all NFL tight ends with three 40-yard receptions this season -- has him in position to see even more involvement in the passing game. The Titans could look to Okonkwo for snaps as a wide receiver, given that the position group is already short on impact contributors and could be further depleted this Sunday against the Jaguars with Treylon Burks in the concussion protocol and uncertain to be available.